Government gets to grips with drug taking and delinquency in schools

DRUGS controls in Balearic schools so far this year have resulted in 114 grammes of hashish and 58 grammes of marihuana being confiscated, said Central Government delegate, Ramon Socias, yesterday.

Following meetings with educational and drug prevention associations in Palma, Socias nevertheless confirmed that no “hard” drugs had been located as had happened in previous years when doses of cocaine had been confiscated.

Socias said that this year, thanks to the cooperation of local security forces, policing of schools for drug consumption had tripled. There have been 100 searches made in secondary schools and the increased presence of police in schools in itself acts as a deterrent, Socias added. He said that drug hauls are diminishing on Majorca due to the tough action that the government has taken with regard to cracking down on distribution networks, such as the “La Paca” family drug barons.

“But we haven't won the battle yet,” he warned. He said that the security forces are always at the disposal of schools, and their students and families to give talks on drug prevention.