Gardaí seize 3 truckloads of goods from head shop wholesalers

GARDAÍ have taken away three truckloads of illegal products from head shop wholesalers in Dublin.

A major Garda operation swung into action almost immediately after a Government ban – which was expected to be introduced in July – came into effect suddenly at lunchtime on Tuesday.

The operation was co-ordinated by the Garda National Drugs Unit (GNDU) and implemented at divisional level by local drug units.

Gardaí entered shops on Tuesday and told staff a wide range of products were now illegal and to hand them over voluntarily, or risk being subsequently raided.

Gardaí contacted head shop owners of premises that were closed on Tuesday and have since accessed all 102 stores. Gardaí have reported a high rate of voluntary compliance by head shops.

Senior officers yesterday said they had recovered “vast quantities” of products, but there was no overall tally yet.

The GNDU targeted two wholesale premises in Dublin, one in Finglas and another in Walkinstown.

The warehouses were used to store huge volumes of products shipped in from abroad, mainly China.

Three truckloads of products were taken away from the wholesalers.

Divisional drug units from around the country are responsible for bringing seized products to Garda Headquarters in Dublin.

Garda sources said there was “a certain amount of shock” among head shop owners and it was not yet clear how many would continue trading.

Head shops can continue to sell a small range of products which, although mind-altering, were not included in Tuesday’s ban. These include salvia (a hallucinogenic) and kratom (a stimulant).

Some stores are also selling some party pills, which claim not to contain any banned substance.

Garda sources said they will be monitoring “very closely” what is continuing to be sold in head shops.

A second Government order – expected in early autumn – is set to ban up to 50 chemicals not included in the first ban.

The order may also include salvia and kratom if a research project currently under way deems they pose a sufficient enough risk to warrant being banned.