Subj: NI: The drugs menace



Date:  Tuesday, October 13, 1998



Source: Belfast Telegraph





The drugs menace

By LAURENCE WHITE



Last year the RUC seized illegal drugs with a

street value of more than UKP6m almost twice the

previous years total sparking fears that the evil

trade is spiralling upwards. 



However, according to Detective Superintendent

David Thompson, head of the Drug Squad, the

statistics reflect more the unprecedented success

of his men and women rather than a drugs culture

out of control. 



Almost one third of the total value of the drugs

recovered came in one swoop at Belfast docks

UKP2m worth of cannabis. 



Police intelligence suggests the huge

consignment was merely in transit through the

docks, from Britain to the Republic. It was too

large for the Northern Ireland market. 



Another large haul this time 90,000 LSD tablets

was made in Newry. This time the evidence

indicated that the drugs were probably for sale on

both sides of the border. 



These finds distorted the statistics and the size of

the drugs problem, Supt Thompson says. 



"We have to look behind the statistics for any one

year. Certainly the trade in illegal drugs in the

province gives us cause for concern. We are

always alert to the fact that some people want

drugs. 



"But the number of people who abuse drugs does

not seem to be growing. Our intelligence would

indicate that the level of abuse has levelled off. 



"However I would add a warning. Whilst there is

an apparent levelling off of demand at this time,

we would like to see that trend continue over a

much longer period of time and have further

intelligence and evidence before we would feel

comfortable that that is the case", he adds. 



"The main users of drugs are aged between 18

and 25. The number of people involves fluctuates

frequently as some outgrow the habit and younger

ones take their place. We can never be

complacent and say that the level of demand has

peaked", Supt Thompson says. 



Police believe the drugs trade in Northern Ireland

is controlled by eight to ten 'barons', who are

known to them. These people generally operate

independently of the masterminds behind the

drugs scene in the Republic, although they may

use each other as facilitators in deals. However,

they do not share the profits of their trade. 



The doubling in size of the Drug Squad in 1996 by

the then Chief Constable Sir Hugh Annesley

provided the unit with the resources to target the

main dealers and suppliers. Yet Supt Thompson

admits it is difficult to get the evidence which will

stand up in court. 



"These people generally work through

intermediaries. They mastermind the deals

coming in from abroad but never handle the drugs

themselves. Couriers and street dealers,

inevitably, are the people most likely to be caught

in the police net. 



"And contrary to common speculation, there

appears to be a decreasing paramilitary

involvement in the drugs trade. There are dealers

who are closely associated with the various terror

groups but what hat they are wearing when

dealing drugs is questionable," Supt Thompson

says. 



"Such individuals are more likely to be aligned to

loyalist paramilitary groups than republican. But

although the former terrorist organisations keep

their distance, they still claim a percentage of the

profit from drug dealings operating in their

heartlands."Supt Thompson also dismisses

speculation that former paramilitaries will turn to

drug dealing in future to keep up the lifestyle

previously financed by protection rackets or

robberies. 



"There is a finite market in Northern Ireland and

demand is currently met by those masterminding

the drugs trade. If others tried to muscle into their

operation it would cause aggravation and

newcomers would not find it easy to build up their

supply networks", he adds. 



The evidence also indicates that drug abuse is not

as closely linked to crimes such as robbery as is

generally imagined. The vast majority of drugs

bought in the province is purchased out of income

or even pocket money. 



Crime, where it does occur, is often committed

purely in desperation. There have been cases of

heroin addicts robbing their corner shop where

they are well known purely to finance the next hit. 



In spite of last year's triumphs Supt Thompson is

coy about blowing his unit's trumpet too loudly.

Customs and Excise officials estimate that about

10% of the drugs which come into Britain are

recovered by them or police. 



"I think we exceed that figure in Northern Ireland

by a fair degree, but the very nature of the trade

makes its extremely difficult to quantify. One

advantage which we and the Gardai in the

Republic have is that we are single forces

operating in a defined jurisdiction. 



"In England and Wales there are 43 forces and it

is therefore more difficult to co-ordinate and

collate all the facts and intelligence. Here all

intelligence is feed into a central drugs

intelligence unit and agreed action taken. 



"We also work very closely with officials from

Customs and Excise who are responsible for

taking action against the importation of drugs. 



"The vast majority of drugs sold in Northern Ireland

come in from the UK, but they can also be

brought in via the Republic or directly from the

Continent. Dealers naturally vary their routes to

keep us guessing."The ferry routes are favourite

conduits with the drugs often hidden in lorries,

boots of cars or special hidden compartments in

vehicles. 



Sometimes the couriers try to brazen it out by

scarcely hiding their booty. One haul of 60,000

ecstasy tablets were found in a sports bag lying

on the back seat of a car stopped in Belfast. 



Supt Thompson is under no illusion that police

action alone can solve the problems. Health and

education authorities, parents and members of the

public also have important roles to play in treating

abusers, educating young people of the dangers

of abuse and passing on information on dealers. 



Anyone with information should contact their

nearest Drug Unit through the RUC Exchange (tel

650222) or through the Freephone Crimestoppers

number (tel 0800-555111). 



Drug Seizures Supt Thompson admits that drugs

are relatively freely available throughout Northern

Ireland. There are no particular blackspots, other

than Belfast and the larger provincial towns, but

Ballymena does have one peculiar trait. 



It is there that heroin abuse is most pronounced,

chiefly for historical reasons. People from the Co

Antrim market town became addicted to the drug

when in Britain and imported their habit when they

returned home. The abuse then spread among

their associates in the area. 



Most drug abusers in the province use cannabis

or ecstasy on a recreational basis. "The vast

majority of abusers would not be classified as

addicts. They take an ecstasy tablet at a dance

venue at the weekend and don't take another until

the following weekend. 



"Cannabis, obviously, is more of a party drug as it

cannot easily be consumed in public. The number

of people addicted to drugs can be counted in the

hundreds" Supt Thompson says. 



Intelligence suggests that the amount of the

highly addictive drugs such as heroin, cocaine or

the deadly crack cocaine circulating in the

province is small. Such drugs are generally

brought in to meet specific demand. 



Heroin, although relatively expensive to buy on the

street, is used generally by people on a low

income bracket, whereas cocaine has a more

glamorous image and is most likely to be abused

in the upmarket party scene. 



The dealers have tailored their trade to meet local

circumstances and pockets. While prices are

consistent with those charged in the rest of the

UK, the deals are smaller. Individual deals may be

only a third of the size of those carried out in

Britain but at a third of the price. 



However there is no evidence that young people

are being given cheap 'tasters' of addictive drugs

like heroin to get them hooked. Such practice has

caused great concern in other regions.