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Drugs

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Dwyane Horace, senior project worker, the Diamond Project, told the Oireachtas committee on drugs use that some young people who think they have 'great status on the street' are themselves drug users being exploited by a criminal gang. Picture: Oireachtas.ie</p>

news

'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

<p>The court heard that gardaí found 14 packages of cannabis weighing half a kilo in the defendant's rucksack. File photo</p>

court and crime

Man's 'click and go' drugs operation subverts West Cork's honesty box tradition, judge says

<p>On both occasions when gardaí searched the house of the defendant, they found €50 worth of cannabis. File picture: Getty</p>

court and crime

Cork man surprised by two drugs possession charges

teenagers drinking in the park

news

Prevention projects need funds to tackle 'really depressing' level of alcohol and drug use among young

Garda stock

news

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

Drugs ship MV Matthew moved to new location

munster

Drugs ship MV Matthew moved to new location

Ireland stock

Four men arrested after €4.6m cannabis haul seized in major garda operation

Four men in their 30s were arrested after gardaí and Revenue uncovered more than €4.6m worth of herbal cannabis

Sat, 15 Nov, 2025

Five arrested as €2.1m worth of cannabis seized in Dublin and Wicklow

Five arrested as €2.1m worth of cannabis seized in Dublin and Wicklow

A total of approximately 98kg of cannabis and 2kgs worth of cocaine was seized

Fri, 14 Nov, 2025

Man arrested after €600,000 cannabis seizure at Shannon Airport

Man arrested after €600,000 cannabis seizure at Shannon Airport

A man in his 20s remains in custody after gardaí discovered 30kg of cannabis concealed in luggage at Shannon Airport

Wed, 12 Nov, 2025

Indonesia Britain Prisoner

British citizens jailed in Bali on drug charges to be repatriated

Two British citizens imprisoned on drug charges in Bali are going to be repatriated within hours in the wake of an agreement between the two nations, an Indonesian government minister has said.

Thu, 06 Nov, 2025

€3m worth of suspected drugs found in Dublin vehicle search

€3m worth of suspected drugs found in Dublin vehicle search

In a statement, gardaí said the drugs were found after they stopped a vehicle in Dolphin’s Barn in Dublin 8 on Tuesday evening

Wed, 05 Nov, 2025

Trump

Hegseth says US attacked alleged drug-running boats in Pacific, killing 14

Defence secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the US military carried out three strikes on Monday in the waters of the Eastern Pacific against boats suspected of carrying drugs, killing 14 people and leaving one survivor.

Tue, 28 Oct, 2025

Trump

Hegseth says US attacked alleged drug-running boats in Pacific, killing 14

Defence secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the US military carried out three strikes on Monday in the waters of the Eastern Pacific against boats suspected of carrying drugs, killing 14 people and leaving one survivor.

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

Drugs seizure on cargo ship

Revenue to face PAC as cost of seized drug ship MV Matthew in Cork nears €11m

Revenue faces PAC scrutiny after spending almost €11m maintaining the seized drug trafficking vessel MV Matthew, still docked in Cork

Sun, 12 Oct, 2025

Gardaí seize €8.2m worth of cocaine and heroin in raids across five counties

Gardaí seize €8.2m worth of cocaine and heroin in raids across five counties

A total of 60 members of An Garda Síochána were involved in the operation

Wed, 08 Oct, 2025

Two men arrested as gardaí uncover €164,000 cannabis grow house in Wexford

Two men arrested as gardaí uncover €164,000 cannabis grow house in Wexford

Gardaí discovered a sophisticated cannabis grow house and seized plants worth an estimated €164,000 during raids in Co Wexford

Wed, 08 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

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

Two men due in court over €1.2m Dublin cocaine seizure

Two men due in court over €1.2m Dublin cocaine seizure

The drugs seized will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis

Thu, 18 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

Stun guns and smoke bombs among illegal and counterfeit items seized in past week

Stun guns and smoke bombs among illegal and counterfeit items seized in past week

The drug seizures were made as a result of risk profiling and with the assistance of detector dogs Sam, Ciara, and Jaspar.

Mon, 08 Sep, 2025

Illegal weight-loss drugs among 400,000 units impounded by HPRA in six months

Illegal weight-loss drugs among 400,000 units impounded by HPRA in six months

Health Products Regulatory Authority warns that black market drugs — many of which are promoted with false claims on social media — can damage people's health

Wed, 03 Sep, 2025

Man, 40s, arrested in connection with €140,000 cocaine seizure in Dublin

Man, 40s, arrested in connection with €140,000 cocaine seizure in Dublin

The man is being held at a garda station in Dublin under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996

Tue, 02 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

British border police and Irish forces work together on drug trafficking operations

British border police and Irish forces work together on drug trafficking operations

UK Border Force officers have been deployed in Ireland to operate aboard Irish vessels covering the Celtic Sea, which has been highlighted as an area at 'biggest risk'

Fri, 29 Aug, 2025

Two men arrested as €775k worth of cocaine and cannabis seized in Waterford

Two men arrested as €775k worth of cocaine and cannabis seized in Waterford

The drugs were seized during searches in Tramore and Waterford City on Wednesday

Thu, 21 Aug, 2025

Two arrested following €700,000 cocaine seizure in Dundalk

Two arrested following €700,000 cocaine seizure in Dundalk

Man and woman held after 10kg of the drug was seized in a joint operation by gardaí and customs officers

Tue, 12 Aug, 2025

Pain killer stock

Painkiller addiction warning as opioid prescriptions rise by 25% in eight years

Study by RCSI and UCC experts shows the use of opioids rose by about 25% between 2014 and 2022, while prescriptions for paracetamol rose by 50%

Fri, 08 Aug, 2025

Inside Alcatraz Prison - Row of Bars and Cells

Cork Crime: People in County Cork have strong communities. All they need is local gardaí

Here we provide a station-by-station breakdown of Cork crime stats — and journalist Ann Murphy talks to gardaí, public representatives, and community activists about their concerns

Tue, 05 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

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

Indonesia Drug Trial

British nationals jailed in Indonesia for drug offences

Judges in Indonesia have sentenced a group of three British nationals to one year in jail for drug offences after a charge that could carry the death penalty was dropped.

Thu, 24 Jul, 2025

Man in prison hands of behind hold Steel cage jail bars. offender criminal locked in jail.

Prisons turned into 'human warehouses' by chronic overcrowding — Council of Europe inspectors

Overcrowding, violence — and a mentally-ill female prisoner who 'had not had access to a shower for four days' — among issues raised by the Council of Europe Committee on the Prevention of Torture

Thu, 24 Jul, 2025

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

Community collaboration is 'critical' to drug strategy success, report says

Funding and staffing constraints affecting local projects, evaluation states

Tue, 22 Jul, 2025

Heroin in Kerry: 'They want to pretend it's not happening'

Heroin in Kerry: 'They want to pretend it's not happening'

Sarah Horgan talks to a recovering addict, a local resident, and health professionals — including a needle exchange worker who says some people are slow to acknowledge the problem

Mon, 21 Jul, 2025

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

'Young people and rural areas let down by lack of drug treatment and prevention services'

Independent evaluation of Government’s drug strategy makes 10 strategic recommendations

Mon, 21 Jul, 2025

Man arrested after €1.6m cannabis haul found in van during Wexford drug sting

Man arrested after €1.6m cannabis haul found in van during Wexford drug sting

Gardaí and Revenue officers seized 80kg of herbal cannabis after intercepting the vehicle in Ballycarney on Friday

Sat, 19 Jul, 2025

Drug taker

Available, affordable, potent: Ireland is being hit by 'a perfect storm' of cocaine

A new HRB study links the availability, affordability, and purity of cocaine being trafficked into Ireland with a massive surge in cocaine-related admissions to hospitals

Thu, 17 Jul, 2025

Spanish man pleads guilty to conspiring to smuggle large quantity of drugs into Ireland

Spanish man pleads guilty to conspiring to smuggle large quantity of drugs into Ireland

Accused had been arrested in connection with the Tragumna drugs case in West Cork

Wed, 09 Jul, 2025

Killer of Clare teacher is jailed for 62 months for drug-dealing

Killer of Clare teacher is jailed for 62 months for drug-dealing

The sentence of five years and two months is longer than the jail term the man received for the 2009 manslaughter of Lissycasey school teacher Brian Casey

Tue, 08 Jul, 2025

Interpol: Kinahans will be 'taken down' as Irish organised crime now on top globally

Interpol: Kinahans will be 'taken down' as Irish organised crime now on top globally

Speaking in Cork, an Interpol director said Irish organised crime groups are now at the top of organised crime internationally

Sat, 05 Jul, 2025

MV Matthew crew were no mere cogs — they played a vital role in cocaine trafficking venture

MV Matthew crew were no mere cogs — they played a vital role in cocaine trafficking venture

Guilty pleas reduced their sentences but the Special Criminal Court found the men were more than mere drugs mules

Sat, 05 Jul, 2025

Four men remanded in custody over €31m cocaine seizure in West Cork

Four men remanded in custody over €31m cocaine seizure in West Cork

Four men from the UK and Germany were remanded in custody after a €31m cocaine haul in Courtmacsherry, Co Cork

Thu, 03 Jul, 2025

Gardaí suspect €31m Courtmacsherry cocaine haul was destined for UK market

Gardaí suspect €31m Courtmacsherry cocaine haul was destined for UK market

Gardaí and Naval Service seize €31m in cocaine from an international gang in a major Courtmacsherry coastal sting operation

Wed, 02 Jul, 2025

Bilingual barrister comes to aid of 'nervous' translator in Special Criminal Court

Bilingual barrister comes to aid of 'nervous' translator in Special Criminal Court

Ten men arrested in Tragumna and Leap, West Cork, charged in connection with drugs offences

Tue, 01 Jul, 2025

Indonesia Drug Arrests

285 arrested after massive drugs haul seized by Indonesian authorities

Indonesian authorities said they arrested 285 people suspected of drug trafficking, including 29 women and seven foreigners, and seized more than half a ton of various substances during a two-month-long nationwide crackdown.

Mon, 23 Jun, 2025

Cork crime: 'To get a sense of the place you live, it is worthwhile going to your local courthouse for a day'

S Cork crime: 'To get a sense of the place you live, it is worthwhile going to your local courthouse for a day'

Liam Heylin introduces our three-day series with a long view on the hard realities — and hope — he sees every day in our courts

Mon, 23 Jun, 2025