Bumper Afghan poppy crop sparks heroin fears

IRELAND faces a flood of cheap heroin following two years of bumper crops of opium poppy in Afghanistan, according to a UN report.

The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) said this could lead to a rise in heroin use and deaths associated with the drug.

"As a result of two years of bumper crops of opium poppy in Afghanistan, it is expected that heroin trafficking along the Balkan route and in Central Europe will increase and stocks, which were drastically depleted during the years of reduced opium poppy production, will be replenished," said the INCB annual report.