Four men appeared before court in Dublin on Tuesday morning on drug-related intimidation charges.
The men, aged 30, 23, 20 and 19, appeared before the Criminal Courts of Justice following their arrests.
Three of the men were arrested at different locations in Dublin before being formally charged in local Garda stations. The fourth man was arrested at a later time.
Drug related intimidation (DRI) refers to violence or aggression inflicted on a person over a drug debt. It often extends beyond the initial victim to include their family members.
Operation Fogra was launched by An Garda Siochana to combat drug-related intimidation in local communities. DRI has been recognised as a major cause of anxiety for residents in some local areas.
Community based initiatives, such as Fingal Families in North Dublin, provide victims of DRI with advice and supports.
Gardai warn that payment of drug debts can often worsen the intimidation rather than alleviate it.
“Victims should be aware that payment of money can in many instances increase the pressure and threats being made to victims from criminals seeking to extort money. The DRI Inspector and Op Fogra team in Dublin Metropolitan Region North are available to provide advice to you,” a spokesperson from the Garda press office said.
Advice on DRI can be accessed here .
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