Gardaí fear drug traffickers will set up labs in Ireland to manufacture synthetic opioids
Thousands Istock Caused Already In Opioid Synthetic North America Hundreds Of Fentanyl File Picture: Has Of Deaths
Gardaí have raised concerns drug traffickers could set up their own laboratories in Ireland to manufacture synthetic opioids given the dramatic changes in the drug market.
Sources point out that Ireland has already seen the emergence of new substances, including nitazene, a super-strong synthetic opioid, in the last year — with mass outbreaks across country — and, earlier this month, synthetic benzodiazepines in Portlaoise Prison.
The increased supply of synthetic opioids into Europe is being linked with the almost complete collapse of opium production in Afghanistan last year as a result of a 2022 ban by the extremist Taliban regime.
This has meant the supply of heroin into Europe is largely coming from stockpiles, with authorities unsure as to when those stores will run out.
UN and EU drug agencies are concerned drug traffickers will turn to synthetic opioids to fill much of the market in Europe.
"It the diversification of drug trafficking networks and is the future challenge,” a Garda source said. “It's very difficult to deal with. Labs will be set up everywhere and Ireland is not immune.”
Gardaí said the main gang suspected on importing synthetic opioids into Ireland, based in the west of Ireland, has "not yet" gone down this road, but are keeping a close eye on their activities.
Ireland’s biggest heroin trafficking gang, based in West Dublin, has not yet gone into the supply of synthetic opioids but has extensive contacts throughout South America, Europe and Asia if it decides to do so, sources have said.
The synthetic opioid, fentanyl, supplied by Mexican drug cartels, has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths in North America.
EU drug agencies are concerned at the potential spread of nitazenes, including any move to start manufacturing the drug in Europe given the presence of drug laboratories on the continent.
The EU police agency Europol on Friday released details of an operation by Polish and Ukrainian authorities which uncovered a massive synthetic opioid laboratory network.
Police, assisted by Europol, raided seven linked labs and seized 195kgs of "crystal methadone", a substance that European sources told the has not been seen within the EU.
It is thought this substance may have been for the Ukraine market.
Methadone is prescribed in the treatment of heroin addiction in Ireland, but illegal crystal methadone is far more powerful.
Polish police also uncovered 153kgs of Alpha-PVP, used in the production of mephedrone, a synthetic cathinone, a popular stimulant drug.
The operation came as a drug-testing service in Britain, Mandrake, which is attached to Manchester Polythetic University, said the current illicit drugs market “has never been more dangerous” and cited the circulation of “extremely dangerous pills” containing nitazenes.