Irish gangs meet drug cartels on distribution of lethal fentanyl in Ireland

The synthetic opiate is 50 times more powerful than heroin and has killed thousands in the US

The Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use heard that 'Irish criminal networks have been considering the supply of fentanyl into the Irish market.' Picture: iStock

Irish criminal networks have travelled with other European gangs to South America to discuss the supply of the lethal synthetic opiate, fentanyl, into the Irish and European markets, it has emerged.

The consortium of traffickers has engaged with notorious cartels in Mexico, including the Sinaloa cartel, who are specialists in the production and supply of fentanyl into the US market.