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.