Social cocaine use in Dublin uncovered

Swabs taken by RTÉ's Prime Time programme from 20 toilets in "middle class" Dublin pubs, clubs and hotels all showed traces of cocaine when analysed. The findings form part of a special investigation into cocaine use to be screened tonight.

The samples were taken on the first weekend of February from a range of premises "frequented by a mainly middle-class clientele in the 20-35 age group". At least one sample from all 20 premises visited showed traces of cocaine.

In 14 of the tests, both swabs taken from the same premises were found to contain traces of the drug. The swabs were sent for analysis to the Drug Treatment Centre Board (DTCB) where tests were carried out by Mr Richard Maguire, senior biochemist with the drug analysis laboratory.

Mr Maguire told tonight's programme the technique used to test the swabs is used regularly by the DTCB. The method is used in legally defensible work and is also used by the Olympic Committee for drug testing athletes, he said.

"We found that we could detect cocaine in all of the locations," Mr Maguire told the programme. The samples tested were collected on alcohol swabs by RTÉ reporter Keelin Shanley.

The DTCB did not have any role in collecting the samples.

Mr Stephen Rowan, director of the Rutland Centre, the residential treatment centre for addicts in Dublin, said Colombia produces around 80 per cent of the world's cocaine and is flooding the European markets.

"So there is a lot of cocaine coming into Ireland in the last 12 to 18 months. It's inexpensive, the quality is high and it's really taken hold in a very big way in this country."

In the last month, gardaí have seized 12 kg of cocaine, more than twice the amount seized in 2001, the last full year for which Garda figures are available. Tonight's screening comes as the Garda Síochána begins a nationwide survey to assess the extent of cocaine use in the Republic.

Mr Tommy Larkin, co-ordinator of UISCE, the drug users' representative body, told the programme that those involved in the cocaine business are much more professional and organised than gangs who trafficked heroin into Ireland in the past.

"It's like comparing a multinational corporation with a greengrocer. Cocaine seems to have exploded over the last six months, and it seems to be everywhere now."

Tonight's programme features interviews with a number of former users.

One man interviewed said he has spent more than €1,000 a day on his cocaine habit. Another interviewee spoke of buying a €50 bag of the drug, having used €800 worth so far that day. Another interviewee who worked as a "minder" for a prostitute said the woman had sex with 20 clients a night to raise the funds to feed her crack cocaine addiction.