State body warns of 'the rising threat' of synthetic opioids in Ireland

Some of the 10 new illicit drugs identified by Forensic Science Ireland last year include protonitazene, a synthetic opioid 'significantly more potent than heroin'

A notice posted on a gate inside Mountjoy Prison warning of the dangers of nitazene. Between 2022 and 2023, Forensic Science Ireland identified several nitazene (synthetic opioids) variants in small seizures of tablets and powders. File photo: Moya Nolan

The State agency tasked with identifying illicit drugs has warned about “the rising threat” of synthetic opioids in Ireland after identifying 10 new substances or unusual presentations of drugs last year.

In the 2024 annual report for Forensic Science Ireland (FSI), acting director general Dr Geraldine O’Donnell pointed out that Section 15A drug-dealing cases — which concern large drug consignment seizures — have increased sevenfold from 45 in 2020 to 318 in 2024.

Between 2022 and 2023, FSI identified several nitazene (synthetic opioids) variants in small seizures of tablets and powders. Ms O’Donnell added: “However, 2024 marked a significant shift, with two of the largest nitazene seizures recorded not only in Ireland but across Europe."

Some of the 10 new illicit drugs identified by FSI last year include protonitazene, a synthetic opioid "significantly more potent than heroin”.

In early 2024, FSI received an urgent out-of-hours request from gardaí to analyse several packages of brown powder identified as 1.9kg of protonitazene, mixed with caffeine and paracetamol. The report states that “this dangerous substance was intended for distribution in the heroin market but was fortunately intercepted by An Garda Siochána".

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FSI staff also detected for the first time an unusual presentation referred to as ‘Tuci’, which comprises 125 grams of a pink powder containing ketamine, amphetamine, MDMA and caffeine.

The report explains that nitazenes were developed as analgesics in the 1950s, but these highly potent synthetic opioids “were never marketed due to overdose risk”.

Cannabis or edibles made up of 44% of all drugs analysed in 2024, with powder accounting for 38% of cases. The number of overall cases submitted to FSI by An Garda Siochana and other State agencies last year totalled 25,170, which included 10,595 drug and toxicology cases.

The report said the FSI has reported on 41 suspicious death investigations in 2024 — a 17% increase on the 2023 figure of 35. The report states that 32 suspects in suspicious death investigations were male, making up 86% of all suspects.

DNA evidence

Last year, FSI staff provided expert independent testimony on 110 occasions before the courts. The report said DNA evidence from FSI “was used extensively in Garda investigations and court cases in many murders, serious assaults, sexual assaults, drug seizures and other offences associated with gangland and organised crime throughout 2024”.

In addition, FSI assisted in the identification of 32 missing people in 2024 through DNA. In one case study, the report states that a male was last seen at Courtown Pier in Wexford in November 2023 and a DNA profile was obtained from his inhaler before being forwarded to Interpol.

“The DNA profile from unidentified human remains found in Wales was sent to FSI via Interpol, and a match was obtained when compared to the inhaler.” 

The number of profiles on the National DNA Database system last year increased by 8,861 to 83,489. Ms O'Donnell said “its success is evidenced by the reality that each time a crime stain is added to the database, there is a one in two chance that it will match with a person's profile on the database”.

The report said 997 cases were aided during 2024 by the national DNA database.