Investigations continue after 'head shops' raids

Gardaí have said that investigations are continuing after they carried out a series of raids on so-called "head shops" across the country.

"Head shops" are retail outlets selling drug paraphernalia related to the consumption of cannabis and other "recreational" drugs.

A total of 22 searches targeting suspected controlled substances were carried out earlier today and involved local drugs units.

Items, which gardaí claim may contain controlled substances, have been seized.

Owners of the Funky Skunk chain of headshops later asserted their innocence, saying their civil rights were being compromised.

"This morning we were raided by the gardaí," said a statement. "This was part of a countrywide campaign of clamping down on unlicensed substances sold in head-shops.

"One such substance, LSA, is not illegal and the gardaí took it without giving us any warning about it or telling us not to sell it.

"In our Limerick shop they took some herbs but not the seeds containing LSA which doesn't make sense. This is just another raid in which they have taken stuff thats not illegal and they haven't returned what they have taken away before.

"LSA is a natural substance that is in the seeds of many plants such as Hawaiian Baby Woodrose and Morning Glory. Morning Glory has being used in Europe for shamanic use since ancient times.

"This is just another case of our civil liberties being compromised."