Irish criminal networks have traveled with other European gangs to discuss the supply of the lethal synthetic opiate, fentanyl, into the Irish and European markets, it has emerged. This is likely in response to the shortage of heroin in Europe due to crackdowns by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The group of European traffickers engaged with Mexican Cartels, including the Sinaloa cartel, who are leaders in the production and supply of fentanyl into the US market. They currently coordinate shipments of cocaine and meth to various parts of Europe.
A long-running West Dublin trafficking outfit, which has dominated the supply of heroin into Ireland for many decades, is considered the most significant Irish organized crime group involved in this endeavor.📷
#### Taliban’s Crackdown on Opium
Irish and European experts are concerned that the Taliban’s crackdown on the production of opium, and therefore heroin in Afghanistan, may result in criminals turning to synthetic opiates, including fentanyl, to fill the market. These synthetic versions are far more potent than heroin. Fentanyl was first detected in Ireland in 2016 and 2017 but is not considered widespread. Ireland recorded 409 overdose deaths in 2020. While the population difference in the United States is vastly greater, the US reported over 100,000 in that same year, with nearly 75% being caused by opioid overdoses.
The crackdown and restriction on growing opium there, since the Taliban’s restoration in August 2021 is being blamed in the UK for a gap in the market, which drug agencies say is being filled by synthetic opiates. Around 95-95% of the UK’s heroin originates in Afghanistan.
British organization Cranstoun published a report this week highlighting “emerging accounts of nitazenes, a potent opioid similar to fentanyl, around 30 to 500 times more potent than heroin, is contaminating the UK’s heroin supply”.
Senior gardaí Chief Supt Seamus Boland told the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use that fentanyl ‘is a risk to all drugs consumers, as cartels can add fentanyl to other drugs to increase addiction, thereby increasing customer base’. “We are satisfied that Irish criminal networks have been considering the supply of fentanyl into the Irish market,” he said.
Chief Supt Boland also told the assembly that Irish criminal networks discussed a number of years ago investing in the emerging legal market for cannabis in Europe.
“In 2019 Irish criminal groups discussed the move to the legalization of cannabis in certain jurisdictions and the potential for increased numbers of countries to follow this route,” he said. “They planned to invest €30 million into the global legal cannabis industry.”
If this happens. Heroin should be given to addicts by the state to stop Fentanyl
That’s all we need. I’ve seen the footage from America of the people folded over and basically unconscious while standing. It’s a horrific drug and the death rate is so high!
Jesus H Christ… If this becomes widely available we are truly fucked. I know a few people who got hooked by accident ( through being prescribed after a bad accident) … destroyed their life basically. Only they were able to access detoxification in the US they would be dead.
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Irish criminal networks have traveled with other European gangs to discuss the supply of the lethal synthetic opiate, fentanyl, into the Irish and European markets, it has emerged. This is likely in response to the shortage of heroin in Europe due to crackdowns by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The group of European traffickers engaged with Mexican Cartels, including the Sinaloa cartel, who are leaders in the production and supply of fentanyl into the US market. They currently coordinate shipments of cocaine and meth to various parts of Europe.
A long-running West Dublin trafficking outfit, which has dominated the supply of heroin into Ireland for many decades, is considered the most significant Irish organized crime group involved in this endeavor.📷
#### Taliban’s Crackdown on Opium
Irish and European experts are concerned that the Taliban’s crackdown on the production of opium, and therefore heroin in Afghanistan, may result in criminals turning to synthetic opiates, including fentanyl, to fill the market. These synthetic versions are far more potent than heroin. Fentanyl was first detected in Ireland in 2016 and 2017 but is not considered widespread. Ireland recorded 409 overdose deaths in 2020. While the population difference in the United States is vastly greater, the US reported over 100,000 in that same year, with nearly 75% being caused by opioid overdoses.
The crackdown and restriction on growing opium there, since the Taliban’s restoration in August 2021 is being blamed in the UK for a gap in the market, which drug agencies say is being filled by synthetic opiates. Around 95-95% of the UK’s heroin originates in Afghanistan.
British organization Cranstoun published a report this week highlighting “emerging accounts of nitazenes, a potent opioid similar to fentanyl, around 30 to 500 times more potent than heroin, is contaminating the UK’s heroin supply”.
Senior gardaí Chief Supt Seamus Boland told the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use that fentanyl ‘is a risk to all drugs consumers, as cartels can add fentanyl to other drugs to increase addiction, thereby increasing customer base’. “We are satisfied that Irish criminal networks have been considering the supply of fentanyl into the Irish market,” he said.
Chief Supt Boland also told the assembly that Irish criminal networks discussed a number of years ago investing in the emerging legal market for cannabis in Europe.
“In 2019 Irish criminal groups discussed the move to the legalization of cannabis in certain jurisdictions and the potential for increased numbers of countries to follow this route,” he said. “They planned to invest €30 million into the global legal cannabis industry.”
If this happens. Heroin should be given to addicts by the state to stop Fentanyl
That’s all we need. I’ve seen the footage from America of the people folded over and basically unconscious while standing. It’s a horrific drug and the death rate is so high!
Jesus H Christ… If this becomes widely available we are truly fucked. I know a few people who got hooked by accident ( through being prescribed after a bad accident) … destroyed their life basically. Only they were able to access detoxification in the US they would be dead.
The death rate is going to rise exponentially