THE VALUE of heroin seized in the Republic so far this year is almost three times as high as seizures of the drug for all of last year.
Garda sources said while the increase in seizures did not necessarily mean heroin addiction was worsening, it appeared trade in the drug was holding firmer than for other drug types since the recession began.
“It could be the case that we’ve been more successful this year than last year with catching heroin dealers rather than assuming there’s more of it on the streets now,” said one source.
“But certainly since the recession started, with cocaine and so on, there’s less of it around; heroin appears to be holding its own.”
The latest seizure of the drug occurred in Kildare, with a haul of 12.5kg valued at €2.5 million intercepted during a suspected drugs drop near the Naas Road on Tuesday.
As part of an intelligence-led operation, detectives from the Garda National Drugs Unit put a surveillance operation in place on two men they suspected were about to become involved in a drugs delivery.
The men met two others in a garage in Kill on Tuesday, where gardaí believe the heroin haul was to be collected. Just as the handover was about to take place, gardaí moved in and searched the men’s vehicles.
Detectives found the 12.5kg during the course of the search and the four men – three in their 20s and a 51-year-old – were arrested at the scene.
They were taken to nearby Clondalkin Garda station where they were detained under section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act.
The older man and one of the men in his 20s have since been released without charge.
It is believed the men were participating in the drugs handover on behalf of others heavily involved in the drugs trade.
The other two men – aged 26 years and 28 years – were still in Clondalkin Garda station last night and were due to appear in court this morning on drug-related charges.
They are from neighbouring suburbs in west Dublin.
Garda sources familiar with the investigation said the heroin was most likely destined for the Dublin market, where the Republic’s heroin problem is worst.
Tuesday’s haul is the biggest individual seizure of heroin for two years. It brings to 33kg the amount of heroin seized last year; with a total combined value of €6.6 million.
This compares to 12kg seized during all of last year, with a value of €2.4 million.
Drugs gangs have seen demand for their drugs plummet since the recession started because drug users’ disposal incomes have reduced greatly in the recession.
Heroin is seen as being more resilient to economic downturns. Those who take it are chronically addicted and are more likely than other non-addict drug users to turn to crime to pay for drugs, or to use a very large portion of their legitimate incomes to buy it.