Drugs are prevalent in every community in County Waterford, not just urban areas.
That's the verdict of Chief Superintendent at Waterford Garda Station, Anthony Pettit.
The issue of drug dealing and criminality was widely discussed at a recent meeting of the Local Community Safety Partnership.
Superintendent Pettit said there have been over 100 hundred drug offences committed in the first three months of this year.
"Not a day goes by that some of our people are not taking action in relation to drugs, it's prelevant right across the city and county. We're investigating 38 cases of possession for sale or supply, so that's 38 cases of seizures that we believe or suspect they're for sale or supply and 132 cases in addition to that of seizures where people had them for their own personal use. When I started working in the area of drugs years ago, it was the cities and the bigger urban areas and after a very short time - I realised it's in every village and community right across the county."
"We're talking about drugs and perhaps the people that might be contemplating taking drugs at the weekend. They are not sitting here listening to us. Whether you're a guard, parent or whatever, sometimes you're seen to be dictating or you're seen to be lecturing and that message is not coming home. I'm glad to hear that people are talking, people are advising. I think an 18, 19, 20 year old is probably more likely to take the advice of some young fella who plays hurling, soccer or camogie for the ladies within a club to say listen you want to steer clear of that."
For the latest Waterford News and Sport, tune into WLR News on the hour and download the WLR App for news on demand.
