#Drugs Crisis

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#Drugs Crisis

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Gardaí have been assembling their file for the DPP since details emerged in 2024 of a major international operation involving the interception of the 'Ghost' encrypted communication system. Picture: iStock</p>

court and crime

Gardaí want charges brought against ‘The Family’ drug gang

An Garda Síochána has sent a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions seeking charges against the leaders of Ireland’s number one drug-trafficking network

<p>A record 3.45 tonnes of cocaine was seized in 2023 — dominated by the 2.25 tonnes on board the MV Matthew off the Cork coast in September 2023. File picture: RollingNews.ie</p>

court and crime

Cocaine 'pouring' into Ireland to supply the Christmas market, gardaí say

<p>The searches resulted in the seizure of a total of 58kg of suspected cocaine, with an estimated value of €4,060,000 (subject to analysis). Picture: An Garda Síochána</p>

news

Three arrested in connection with €4m cocaine seizure in Kildare and Wexford

Court adjourns sentencing of man who used 'honesty box system' to deal drugs in West Cork

court and crime

Court adjourns sentencing of man who used 'honesty box system' to deal drugs in West Cork

Revealed: 27% more drug-driving offences in first nine months of 2025 than all of last year

politics

Revealed: 27% more drug-driving offences in first nine months of 2025 than all of last year

Former Defence Forces officers say Ireland is under threat and may be at the mercy of drones

spotlight

Former Defence Forces officers say Ireland is under threat and may be at the mercy of drones

Drugs Illustration

Ecstasy alert: HSE warns drug users about high-dose MDMA

One pill doesn’t mean one dose: HSE advises of the risk from ecstasy pills containing as much as 300mg of MDMA — 'the highest [dosage] we've ever seen in Ireland'

Fri, 12 Dec, 2025

Edenderry to hold funeral today of firebomb attack victim four-year-old Tadgh Farrell

Edenderry to hold funeral today of firebomb attack victim four-year-old Tadgh Farrell

It is understood that teenagers are suspected of carrying out the attack, with at least one being a minor

Fri, 12 Dec, 2025

Judge says drug traffickers underestimated alertness of West Cork community

Judge says drug traffickers underestimated alertness of West Cork community

Sentencing the seven men to a total of 70 years, Judge Karen O’Connor remarked that they had underestimated 'the diligence, neighbourliness, and alertness of people in coastal communities'

Fri, 12 Dec, 2025

Seven men who conspired to smuggle €59m of cocaine into West Cork get a combined 70 years

Seven men who conspired to smuggle €59m of cocaine into West Cork get a combined 70 years

All sentences, ranging from eight years to 11 years, were backdated to when the men entered custody on March 14, 2024

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025

State body warns of 'the rising threat' of synthetic opioids in Ireland

State body warns of 'the rising threat' of synthetic opioids in Ireland

Some of the 10 new illicit drugs identified by Forensic Science Ireland last year include protonitazene, a synthetic opioid 'significantly more potent than heroin'

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025

Drugs seizure on cargo ship

Drugs ship MV Matthew more likely to be scrapped than sold after costing the State €20m, PAC told

Revenue warns the MV Matthew could cost the State over €20m as regulatory issues stall its sale or scrapping

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025

Boy in hoodie trespassing on private residential property

Disrupting gang recruiters reduces the 'malign influence' they have over children, say Irish researchers

Eoin O’Meara-Daly, assistant director of Research Evidence into Policy, Programmes and Practice, stressed the role of poverty and marginalisation in driving gang recruitment

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visit to Ireland

Government pledges €300m for defence and anti-drone technology after Zelenskyy visit

Government ramps up defence spending, including €15m for anti-drone systems, after drones were detected near Zelenskyy’s flight

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

SPAIN-CRIME-DRUGS

'We must match drone and robot tech that criminals and terrorists are using' – Europol

Police forces, including An Garda Síochána, must adapt to fight technology-enabled crime amid the surge of illegal use of drones and robots, according to EU law enforcement agency

Mon, 08 Dec, 2025

Cocaine in plastic packet on black background

Court adjourns case against man and woman accused of drug-dealing in Cork

The court heard that an incorrect address in the Douglas area was previously given for the accused woman who lives in Dublin

Mon, 08 Dec, 2025

'Criminal gangs recruit kids — and try to use their parents' homes to distribute drugs'

'Criminal gangs recruit kids — and try to use their parents' homes to distribute drugs'

Oireachtas committee hears gangland criminals are grooming children as young as 12, and may also be targeting 9-year-olds

Thu, 04 Dec, 2025

Crystal meth businessman Nathan McDonnel faces losing half of €795k Kerry home

Crystal meth businessman Nathan McDonnel faces losing half of €795k Kerry home

Revenue has secured a High Court order appointing a receiver over half the proceeds of Nathan McDonnell’s €795,000 Tralee home sale

Thu, 04 Dec, 2025

Drug Use in West Midlands, England

Man to face trial charged with directing criminal gang allegedly involved in heroin dealing in Cork

Three other men were also charged in connection with the investigation

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

COLOMBIA-MARIJUANA-PROTEST

Cork man gave free samples of cannabis to potential customers to test its quality

Gardaí found a kilo of cannabis resin, with a street value of €6,000, together with a weighing scales, at the accused's home and he admitted his intention to sell it by word of mouth, court told

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

synthetic white crystal drugs, white powder cocaine amphetamine

Man attacked other drug taker as he believed drugs were laced with laxative, Cork court told

The defendant was given a three-year sentence suspended from 12 noon today on condition that he leaves the country within seven days

Mon, 01 Dec, 2025

Homelessness On The Rise In New York

Limerick councillors back call for supervised injection clinic amid rise in drug litter

Councillors strongly support trialling a supervised injection centre as Limerick faces mounting drug litter and addiction pressures

Thu, 27 Nov, 2025

Prisoner

Cork man jailed for burgling seven bottles of whiskey from the home of his in-laws

He was also convicted of a burglary on Wellington Road on the same day

Fri, 21 Nov, 2025

Garda stock

Garda arrested in connection with disappearance of 'substantial amount' of drugs from station

Serving officer remains in custody

Wed, 19 Nov, 2025

Cocaine dealer targeted by Cork Garda drugs unit jailed for five years

Cocaine dealer targeted by Cork Garda drugs unit jailed for five years

The accused was described as 'an active drug-dealer who was on bail for other drugs offences when he was caught with a sophisticated drug-dealing operation'

Tue, 18 Nov, 2025

synthetic white crystal drugs, white powder cocaine amphetamine

Man jailed after Cork gardaí find €837k of cocaine in car's secret compartment

Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard that the car was modified for the sole purpose of transporting drugs for a highly organised criminal group

Thu, 13 Nov, 2025

Sighting of torchlight at shipping container led Cork gardaí to €21k cannabis haul

Sighting of torchlight at shipping container led Cork gardaí to €21k cannabis haul

Judge Dermot Sheehan imposed a total sentence of three years which was suspended in full

Thu, 06 Nov, 2025

Cannabis ready to roll

No jail for man found with €19k worth of cannabis at his home in Cork City

Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard the accused 'was engaged in drug-dealing because of a drug debt'

Wed, 05 Nov, 2025

Cork man who has used numerous types of drugs for 35 years jailed for drug-dealing

Cork man who has used numerous types of drugs for 35 years jailed for drug-dealing

Dean Coughlan, who has been a polydrug user from the age of 15, was caught with €10k worth of heroin in his underpants

Mon, 03 Nov, 2025

Gardaí close to submitting file to DPP on leaders of 'The Family' drug gang

Gardaí close to submitting file to DPP on leaders of 'The Family' drug gang

‘The Family’ was hit again in a swoop on a distribution centre in Laois, with the seizure of 116kgs of cocaine

Thu, 30 Oct, 2025

€8.1m cocaine haul seized in Co Laois

€8.1m cocaine haul seized in Co Laois

One man in his 30s was arrested and is being held at a Laois Garda Station.

Tue, 28 Oct, 2025

drug syringe and cooked heroin on spoon. drug addict problem and therapy concept

Prevention and tackling alcohol need to be main focus of next drugs strategy, department told

The issue of nitrous oxide among children and young people was also raised

Fri, 24 Oct, 2025

Man accused of directing organised crime for 'large-scale distribution of heroin in Cork'

Man accused of directing organised crime for 'large-scale distribution of heroin in Cork'

It is the first time such a count was ever brought in Cork

Wed, 22 Oct, 2025

Man Buying Drugs On The Street

Demand for addiction treatment rises by 35% as more people seek help, report shows

Coolmine Therapeutic Community reports a 35% rise in people seeking addiction help, with alcohol and cocaine leading cases

Tue, 21 Oct, 2025

Cocaine worth 10.5 million euro found in lead lined fuel tank

Nearly €25m worth of cocaine seized at Rosslare Europort over last week

On Monday, an intelligence-led operation at the port led to the seizure of approximately 150kg of suspected cocaine in a lorry

Sun, 19 Oct, 2025

Prisoners who failed or missed drug tests allowed to keep special privileges

Prisoners who failed or missed drug tests allowed to keep special privileges

Audit of the Irish Prison Service’s incentivised regime system found that in half of 201 cases involving failed or missed drug tests, the prisoner was not downgraded as required under policy

Fri, 17 Oct, 2025

‘Ireland is awash with cocaine — we’re losing the battle,’ warns former Navy commander

‘Ireland is awash with cocaine — we’re losing the battle,’ warns former Navy commander

Revenue’s new €9m Customs cutter will patrol Ireland’s southern coast, but experts warn the country is still 'losing the battle' against smugglers

Fri, 17 Oct, 2025

Cocaine worth 10.5 million euro found in lead lined fuel tank

Gardaí believe they have taken out key transportation route for cocaine smugglers

Targeting drivers of trucks transporting drugs across Europe into Ireland "is maximising the disruption on organised crime groups", says security source.

Wed, 15 Oct, 2025

Cannabis ready to roll

Truck driver faces further wait for DPP directions in €2.1m cannabis case in Cork

The man is charged with cannabis possession and having the cannabis for sale or supply at the Port of Cork, Ringaskiddy

Tue, 14 Oct, 2025

Alleged 'logistics figure' refused bail in €32m Kerry crystal meth case

Kerry crystal meth haul co-accused had 'no connection' to machine where drugs were found, court told

From his 'sparse' viewing of the disclosure so far, defence barrister Colm Symth SC said he was 'confident' that his client had no link to drugs found in the third machine

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

drug syringe and cooked heroin on spoon. drug addict problem and therapy concept

Questions over 'incomprehensible' exclusion of community groups from drugs strategy steering group

The Oireachtas drugs committee is seeking an explanation of the reasoning behind this decision.

Thu, 02 Oct, 2025

Discharge of sewage into a river

HSE tenders for €480k contract to test wastewater for 'objective, real-time' data on illicit drugs

The three-year contract will inform research, policy and practice in the HSE’s National Social Inclusion Office as part of an early warning system for drugs

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

Drug Use in West Midlands, England

Cork judge notes 'very sad lives of addiction' of two men accused of stealing car

One of the accused told the court: 'If I go back to prison I will be on the floor and back to square one.'

Fri, 26 Sep, 2025

Two arrested after €15k cocaine and diamorphine seizure in Dublin raid

Two arrested after €15k cocaine and diamorphine seizure in Dublin raid

Gardaí seized €15,200 worth of cocaine and diamorphine, along with cash and phones, during a Dublin 1 operation

Wed, 24 Sep, 2025

Medical Marijuana Edibles, Candies Infused with HHC Cannabis in food industry

Ireland's delay in banning HHC may have boosted demand

Teenagers in Ireland have become ill and had to be hospitalised due to vaping the semi-synthetic cannabinoid

Mon, 22 Sep, 2025

HSE to operate harm reduction tents at dance festival as high potency drugs circulate

HSE to operate harm reduction tents at dance festival as high potency drugs circulate

The aim is to help people 'reduce the harms and look after themselves and others, to help create a safer festival'

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025

Cork man jailed on theft and shoplifting charges claims to have an awakening

Cork man jailed on theft and shoplifting charges claims to have an awakening

The court was told the defendant started taking tablets and heroin after his father died when he was 13

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025

Man arrested in Cork on five-year-old drug charge hoped it had been forgotten

Man arrested in Cork on five-year-old drug charge hoped it had been forgotten

When he was arrested, the defendant gave a false name

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025

Cork gardaí investigating alleged Lithuanian crime gang compile 3,000-page file, court told

Cork gardaí investigating alleged Lithuanian crime gang compile 3,000-page file, court told

Sergeant John Kelleher gave details on the extent of the file as he explained why it was taking some time for DPP directions to be given in the case

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

Limerick brothers charged with possession of cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply

Limerick brothers charged with possession of cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply

Court heard the drugs were allegedly offloaded to another man who stashed some of it in his underwear

Wed, 10 Sep, 2025