Last year’s drugs haul worth a record €170m

RECORD values of illegal drugs have been seized this year, figures have revealed.

More than €170 million worth of drugs have been confiscated to date, compared with about €100m last year.

The jump in 2007 is dominated by massive seizures of cocaine, including a colossal haul of 1.5 tonnes in July. The Irish Examiner understands a survey on drug use to be published in January will confirm cocaine use has risen since the last survey four years ago.