€3k worth of suspected cannabis vapes seized after person falls ill in Donegal

Gardaí have seized more than €3k worth of cannabis vapes. File picture: iStock

Gardaí have seized €3,080 worth of suspected cannabis vaping products after a member of the public fell ill in Co Donegal.

Officers attached to the divisional drugs unit in Donegal searched a number of premises in Bundoran and Donegal Town on Thursday, August 22. 

Gardaí said the searches followed enquiries into "reports of a medical incident, in which a member of the public had fallen ill".

Items seized in the searches included 66 vapes and 2 bottles of oil, containing suspected illegal cannabinoids (THC, HHC and HHCP). The items seized are now subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland.

A Garda spokesperson said: "We are appealing for any person with information that can assist with their investigation to contact Ballyshannon Garda station on [phone], the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station."

Vapes and other products sold for public consumption, potentially infused with suspected illegal cannabinoids (THC, HHC and HHCP) can have significant negative effects, gardaí said, "particularly where persons may not be fully aware of the strength or potential effects of the product being consumed".

They added: "HSE information on the potential effects of hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) clearly highlights that 'emerging information from Irish hospitals has highlighted two case studies of regular cannabis smokers who experienced psychotic episodes as a possible result of vaping HHC'.”

The searches were the result of an ongoing investigation into the sale or supply of cannabis in the form of oil and vapes, devices and e-cigarettes in Donegal.

The news comes days after an Irish charity called for a service to help young people quit vaping — which they claimed was "urgently needed to save thousands of teenagers from lifelong nicotine addiction".

The Irish Heart Foundation said there is “a youth vaping epidemic” in Ireland and dedicated support was needed to help young people quit one of the most addictive substances on the planet.