#Drugs Crisis

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#Drugs Crisis

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>The judge imposed a total sentence of six years with the last year suspended at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. File picture: Dan Linehan</p>

court and crime

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'

<p>Det. Garda Fogarty said the drugs were found in a concealed compartment underneath the area between the back seats and the boot. File photo</p>

court and crime

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

<p>The court heard that when the shipping container was opened 'there was a smell of cannabis'. File photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie</p>

court and crime

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

Cannabis ready to roll

court and crime

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

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

court and crime

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

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

court and crime

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

€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

Woman feared for children's safety as Cork bag snatcher almost overturned buggy carrying infant

Woman feared for children's safety as Cork bag snatcher almost overturned buggy carrying infant

Woman from Northern Ireland was visiting Cork city for first time

Thu, 04 Sep, 2025

Cannabis ready to roll

Truck driver charged over €2.1m drug seizure in Cork remanded in custody

Man remanded the accused in custody until September 17

Wed, 03 Sep, 2025

COLOMBIA-MARIJUANA-PROTEST

Cork man gets suspended sentence for fourth conviction for drug possession again

The defendant told Macroom District Court he took cannabis to help with pain management and worked as a panel beater

Wed, 03 Sep, 2025

Community networks left out of National Drugs Strategy steering group for first time in 30 years

Community networks left out of National Drugs Strategy steering group for first time in 30 years

Department of health set up steering group last month

Mon, 01 Sep, 2025

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

Cork man accused of dealing from a 'drugs storehouse' remanded in custody

The court heard that the accused was found with €3,000 worth of heroin stuffed down his pants

Mon, 01 Sep, 2025

Cork City Hall event to hear about neuroscientist's recovery from 15-year heroin addiction

Cork City Hall event to hear about neuroscientist's recovery from 15-year heroin addiction

Ahead of the event, Brian Pennie said: 'Recovery is about so much more than simply getting clean. It’s about rebuilding your life from the inside out'

Mon, 01 Sep, 2025

HSE launch project in Cork to provide take-home medicine packs that reverse opioid overdoses

HSE launch project in Cork to provide take-home medicine packs that reverse opioid overdoses

The team will provide naloxone directly to people who have overdosed but decline ambulance transport to hospital

Fri, 29 Aug, 2025

HSE warns Electric Picnic festivalgoers over high-strength drugs in circulation

HSE warns Electric Picnic festivalgoers over high-strength drugs in circulation

The HSE has urged Electric Picnic attendees to use its on-site harm reduction tents as concerns grow over high-potency drugs

Wed, 27 Aug, 2025

Irish police

Co-operation with Poland leads to more than €8m worth of drugs seized in Ireland

Thirteen Polish nationals were arrested in Ireland during the course of the investigation

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025

Cannabis plants worth more than €750,000 seized in Co Louth

Cannabis plants worth more than €750,000 seized in Co Louth

A large-scale cannabis cultivation factory was found after a premises in Drogheda was searched by gardaí attached to the Dublin Crime Response Team

Wed, 06 Aug, 2025

Poison

Alcohol Ireland's leading addiction among those seeking treatment from services, new report shows

Alcohol accounted for 40% of all presentations to drug and alcohol treatment service Coolmine so far this year, followed by cocaine at 31%

Wed, 06 Aug, 2025

Cannabis ready to roll

Truck driver 'maintaining his innocence' over €2.1m cannabis seizure in Cork, court told

Cork District Court heard that the employers of the accused were 'very concerned about their truck'

Wed, 06 Aug, 2025

James Mahon: Hawk against the Dove photography exhibition

Woman who was homeless in Kildare says a stranger’s kindness saved her life

Antoinette Foley, who is recovering from addiction to heroin and crack cocaine, has urged people not to make assumptions about people who are sleeping rough

Mon, 04 Aug, 2025

Cocaine seizure

Gardaí investigate narco-subs used by cartels to smuggle cocaine into Ireland

Gardaí are probing how narco-subs used by South American cartels could be moving drugs into Irish and European waters

Fri, 01 Aug, 2025

Alcohol Change UK survey

Alcohol and drug treatment cases jump almost 80% since 2017

Cocaine replaced cannabis in 2022 as the most common additional drug, according to a report from the Health Research Board

Thu, 31 Jul, 2025

Garda inscription on a police jacket from Ireland

Drug searches in Ireland fall by 7,000 amid garda staffing crisis

Drug searches fell by 15% last year, with garda unions warning of staff shortages and 1,900 possible retirements by 2028

Thu, 31 Jul, 2025

Courts of Criminal Justice, Dublin

Five men jailed for roles in 'cruel and sadistic' torture of woman over false accusation

The sentencing judge said the offending 'demonstrates the evils associated with the drugs trade' and its wider criminal associations

Wed, 30 Jul, 2025

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

Ireland finally bans HHC 'but we must be vigilant about new drugs’

HHC, widely available to children as vapes and edibles, has been linked to serious medical episodes and psychosis here in Ireland

Wed, 30 Jul, 2025

HHC added to list of illegal drugs in Ireland by health minister

HHC added to list of illegal drugs in Ireland by health minister

The import, export, production, possession, sale, or supply of products containing HHC is now illegal.

Tue, 29 Jul, 2025

Despair

Diversion scheme for those caught in possession of drugs to be in place by November

Health intervention to operate on discretion of gardaí

Tue, 29 Jul, 2025

Oberstown Campus

Cork teenager who threatened to kill woman told by judge to sort out his drug and anger issues

Judge Carroll told the youth that he has great potential but she said: 'You need structure, you need routine.'

Mon, 28 Jul, 2025

Man arrested after cannabis worth €2.1m seized in Cork

Man arrested after cannabis worth €2.1m seized in Cork

Revenue officers seized 107kgs of herbal cannabis at the Port of Cork on Sunday with the help of detector dog Rua

Mon, 28 Jul, 2025

Courts of Criminal Justice, Dublin

Woman will never forgive the 'sick human beings' who tortured her over false accusation

The woman was left with a broken eye socket, broken cheekbone, broken nasal bone, broken elbow, burns, dislocated teeth, bruising and lacerations

Fri, 25 Jul, 2025

Number of festivals to have HSE's harm reduction initiative is halved ahead of drugs strategy review

Number of festivals to have HSE's harm reduction initiative is halved ahead of drugs strategy review

HSE says it can't expand its Safer Nightlife Programme in its 'current format' and hopes for a policy change

Fri, 25 Jul, 2025