PROVINCIAL publicans who be long to the Vintners Federation of Ireland are to join forces with the Garda in a campaign against the illicit drugs trade.
The initiative was announced at the VFI conference in Galway, which was attended by members of the Garda National Drugs Unit.
Chief Supt Joe Dowling briefed publicans on the type of drugs in circulation and how they are consumed.
Seized drugs with a street value of £300,000 were on display at the conference.
"We want to play a front line role in helping to eradicate what has become a social cancer," said Mr Paul O'Grady, VFI president.
"Publicans are the eyes and ears of community life and the nature of our business brings us in contact with all sorts of people."
The scheme will concentrate on educating publicans about drugs and the most effective means of reporting suspected drug dealing. Much of the campaign will focus on improving lines of communication between publicans and the Garda.
Publicans could play a crucial role in curbing drug use, according to Chief Supt Dowling.
"Their unique position in the community as a major social out let gives them access to a lot of useful information and, opportunities to observe suspicious or un-usual behaviour."
Mr John Mansworth, a publican from Cobh, Co Cork, who was involved in drawing up the scheme, said publicans had been vigilant in the face of drugs problems, but he accepted that pubs were often used for dealing. The campaign would include staging seminars and would aim to ensure that pubs became drugs free zones.
The fourth largest seizure of Cocaine in Europe had resulted from a, Cork publican reporting, suspicious behaviour on a premises, he added. This was an indication of publicans' good faith when it came to drugs.
