Pubdate: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 Source: Irish Examiner (Ireland) Copyright: Examiner Publications Ltd, 2000 Contact: http://www.examiner.ie/ Section: Opinion INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION KEY TO BEATING DRUG BARONS THE high level of co operation at international level in the fight against drugs witnessed at a major police conference being held in Dublin is to be warmly welcomed in view of the growing incidence of addiction among young Irish people. As an integral part of the world wide fight against crime, six police forces have combined their resources in a bid to combat the so called drug barons who ply their evil trade on the streets of Europe's towns and cities. Ever since the garda crackdown on their activities in the wake of the murder of Veronica Guerin, Ireland's major drug dealers have moved their operations to mainland Europe. But they have not gone away. It would be foolish to pretend their tentacles no longer reach deep into Irish society. Despite arrests involving millions of pounds worth of drugs, they remain firmly in control of the flow of ecstasy, cocaine, hashish and heroin still reaching this country. Co operation of the kind demonstrated in the police conference is vital if the drug barons are to be defeated. But it is at street level that the crisis of poverty and human despair which lead to addiction must be tackled. In this regard the drug prevention project launched by President McAleese on behalf of the Simon Community in Cork is a laudable initiative. Based on a policy of early intervention, the project will offer help and support to young addicts. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart