Operation Tara has begun.

An Garda Síochána has commenced an enhanced national strategy aimed at protecting communities “from the scourge of illegal drugs”.

The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels – international, national, local – involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs.

“The term ‘recreational’ drug use is a dangerous misnomer that hides the irreparable damage that illegal and dangerous drugs cause to individuals and society,” said Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.

“A current generation is suffering from and will be lost to the menace of this illegal drug use.

“Every person who continues to buy and consume illegal drugs inflicts untold damage to individuals under coercive control from organised drug gangs in Ireland, is putting money directly in the pockets of drug cartels, and is responsible for the damage done to communities here and abroad from drugs.”

‘It is now happening in towns and villages’

Operation Tara will place a particular focus on street-level dealing: “Not only is this dealing devastating for the individual buying the drugs and their loved ones, it is also corrosive for local communities to have to witness it.” added Commissioner Harris.

“It is no longer the case that such dealing is confined to our cities and urban areas, it is now happening in towns and villages around the country. Operation Tara will tackle this scourge.”

In May last year, the Divisional Drugs Unit in Cork City seized approximately half a kilo of suspected heroin with an estimated street value of €70,000. At a second search conducted in an industrial premise, a quantity of heroin, Xanax tablets, ecstasy and cocaine with an estimated street value of €167,000 was seized.

In June, the team xecuted a search warrant at a container and seized €55,000 of suspected cannabis herb, €5,000 of suspected cocaine, and a small number of suspected diazepam tablets.