One drug driving arrest and five vehicle seizures during Galway garda checkpoint operation

Gardaí in Galway conducted multi-agency checkpoints on Monday, May 25, with Customs, the RSA, and the Department of Social Protection. One drug driving arrest was made, and five vehicles were detained as part of the checkpoint series around Galway. Around 30 fixed charge notices were issued, and multiple prosecutions are expected for road traffic offences. The policing activity focused on raising awareness, conducting drug searches, and preventing drink and drug driving. A drug driver was detected shortly after the checkpoint began at 8.30am, with cocaine found in the system. The person was processed and brought to Tuam Garda Station and admitted consuming cocaine over the weekend, which remained in the system while driving toward Galway city.

"Gardaí in Galway made one drug driving arrest and detained five vehicles as part of a series of checkpoints around Galway earlier this week. Gardaí carried out a series of multi-agency checkpoints across Galway on Monday, May 25, along with members of Customs, the RSA and Department of Social Protection. Around 30 fixed charge notices were also issued and multiple prosecutions will follow for road traffic offences, a garda spokesperson said."

"Inspector Stan O'Grady explained that the objective of the high-visibility policing activity is to promote awareness, carry out drug searches, and prevent drink and drug driving. "At 8.30am we had a drug driver and we were only after setting up the checkpoint. He was detected with cocaine in the system and was processed and brought back to Tuam Garda Station.""

""He openly admitted after arrest that he had consumed cocaine over the weekend period, [which] was still in his system on Monday morning when he was driving towards Galway city. "Our message is very clear, we have the tools, we are out there, and we are there to keep our road network safe," he added."

Read at Irish Independent