Ecstacy chemicals seized in raid

More than 8,000 litres of chemicals used to manufacture ecstasy and amphetamines were seized tonight in a Dublin warehouse.

In a joint operation with the the National Drugs Unit and Dutch police, customs officers raided the building in Walkinstown and discovered the chemicals stashed in barrels.

The product had the potential to make more than 50 million ecstasy tablets worth €500m and two and a half tonnes of amphetamine valued at €30m, gardaí said.

Four men and two women were arrested and are being detained at Tallaght, Clondalkin and Terenure garda stations in Dublin. Three of the men and one women are Chinese, one man is from Afghanistan and one woman from Macau.

Police believe the chemicals were destined for the Dutch drugs market.

A spokeswoman said a similar product was also found in the Netherlands. She said the raids followed an investigation lasting several months.