GARDAÍ ARE investigating the theft of a large consignment of date-rape drugs and sleeping tablets from a warehouse. The drugs are valued at about €750,000 when purchased in pharmacies but are worth a multiple of that on the black market.
Included in the stolen haul are more than 80,000 Flunitrazepam tablets, also known as Rohypnol. The drug is usually prescribed for severe insomnia but has also been used to spike drinks in cases of so-called date rape.
Gardaí have warned that any of the stolen drugs could be very dangerous if consumed without medical supervision.
The drugs were stolen from the warehouse of a pharmaceutical company at Baldoyle industrial estate, north Dublin, in the early hours of yesterday morning.
A four-man gang overpowered a security guard at the plant at about 3am. They removed the drugs and escaped in a dark 4x4 vehicle.
Gardaí are hopeful CCTV images recorded in the area may shed light on the execution of the robbery. However, the security guard was unable to give a detailed description of the men’s getaway vehicle and there is no description of the raiders.
The drugs stolen include 17 25 litre drums containing one million 7.5mg Zopiclone sleeping tablets. The drugs would cost about €500,000 in pharmacies but could fetch up to €2 million on the black market.
The 83,000 Flunitrazepam 1mg tablets were in one 25 litre drum. They retail at about €250,000 in pharmacies but would likely fetch over €1 million on the black market. Anyone with information should contact gardaí in Howth on (01) 666 4900