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A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

Indonesian police officers stand guard near suspects and various drugs seized in a nationwide crackdown (Achmad Ibrahim/AP)

world

285 arrested after massive drugs haul seized by Indonesian authorities

Indonesian authorities said they arrested 285 people suspected of drug trafficking, including 29 women and seven foreigners, and seized more than half a ton of various substances during a two-month-long nationwide crackdown.

<p>‘Irish Examiner’ court reporter Liam Heylin at the Criminal Courts of Justice on Anglesea St in Cork. Amid the sometimes absurd and sometimes unsettling moments in criminal cases he covers, Liam notes trends and patterns in crimes coming before the courts. Picture: Dan Linehan</p>

S court and crime

Cork crime: 'To get a sense of the place you live, it is worthwhile going to your local courthouse for a day'

<p> Aodhan McAuley, a participant father in the Parent Under Pressure (PUP) programme at the recent Coolmine Therapeutic Community launch for the landmark evaluation of the PUP programme. Picture: Marc O'Sullivan</p>

news

Coolmine's intensive PUP project for drug-using parents 'should go national'

Two arrested in connection with 12kg cannabis seizure worth €240,000 in North Dublin

court and crime

Two arrested in connection with 12kg cannabis seizure worth €240,000 in North Dublin

MV Matthew: How crime gang's ill-prepared crew fell afoul of Ireland's largest cocaine seizure

spotlight

MV Matthew: How crime gang's ill-prepared crew fell afoul of Ireland's largest cocaine seizure

Cocaine stock

court and crime

Cocaine hauls hit record high for seventh year in a row warns EU drug agency

Indonesia Narcotics

Several people arrested in Bali on drugs charges that could carry death penalty

Several foreign nationals – including an Australian, an Indian and an American – have been arrested on the tourist island of Bali on suspicion of possessing drugs, charges that could carry the death penalty.

Thu, 05 Jun, 2025

Drugs seizure on cargo ship

Crews 'expendable' in massive cocaine smuggling operation, court hears

A retired Ukrainian fisherman was told he would earn €5k but claimed he did not know it was a drug-trafficking plot for a major organised crime group

Thu, 05 Jun, 2025

Drugs seizure on cargo ship

MV Matthew crew 'terrified' amid chaos of cocaine trafficking operation, court hears

Special Criminal Court hears of activity on board the ship in the hours before Irish Army Rangers stormed it, bringing the criminal operation to a sudden and dramatic end

Wed, 04 Jun, 2025

Indonesia Britain Drug Trial

Three Britons accused of smuggling drugs face the death penalty in Indonesia

Three British nationals accused of smuggling nearly a kilogram of cocaine into Indonesia have been charged in a court on the tourist island of Bali. They face the death penalty under the country’s strict drug laws.

Tue, 03 Jun, 2025

Indonesia British Drug Trial

Briton sentenced to 10 months in jail in Bali after death penalty charge dropped

A court on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali has sentenced a British man to 10 months in jail for drug offences after a charge that could carry the death penalty was dropped.

Tue, 27 May, 2025

Shannon Airport, Ireland - December 27th 2016: Shannon Airport is Irelands 2nd largest airport in Ireland County Clare. A key ai

Nearly €3m worth of cannabis seized at Shannon Airport

The seized drugs have an estimated street value of €2,980,000

Mon, 26 May, 2025

IRISH US

Bacik: Policy of criminalising cannabis use 'has failed'

The Labour leader has called for decriminalisation

Tue, 20 May, 2025

Indonesia Britain Drug Trial

British man on trial in Bali pleads for lenient sentence

A British man on trial for drug offences has pleaded for leniency in a court on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali after a charge that could carry the death penalty was dropped.

Tue, 20 May, 2025

HHC: The drug sold on Irish main streets that’s sending teens to hospital

HHC: The drug sold on Irish main streets that’s sending teens to hospital

Synthetic cannabis HHC is being sold in Irish shops despite expert warnings of addiction, psychosis, and teen hospitalisations

Sat, 17 May, 2025

Public 'indifferent' to dangers of HHC use, health experts warn

Public 'indifferent' to dangers of HHC use, health experts warn

A fifth of teenagers attending addiction services are there due to synthetic cannabis products

Sat, 17 May, 2025

Man, 50's, arrested in connection with €1.8m cannabis seizure in Louth

Man, 50's, arrested in connection with €1.8m cannabis seizure in Louth

The man is currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Drug Trafficking Act 1996

Mon, 12 May, 2025

'Easier to get cocaine in Limerick than a pint', students tell author

'Easier to get cocaine in Limerick than a pint', students tell author

Joseph O'Connor's comments come amid growing concern that the city is now the 'go-to place' to get crack cocaine

Mon, 12 May, 2025

Blue lights on the roof of a Garda Siochana Irish police car

Two men arrested following seizure of 500kg of cannabis herb in Clare

Inquiries are now underway by gardaí and Revenue to gather information about the shipment and the people concerned

Thu, 08 May, 2025

Alone in the Dark

Drug-related intimidation awareness campaign launched to help affected families

'Drug-related intimidation and violence is a serious and complex problem, affecting people of all ages and from all walks of life,' minister of state Jennifer Murnane O’Connor said

Thu, 08 May, 2025

One arrest as gardaí seize €75k drugs, 41 vehicles, in crackdown on scramblers and e-scooters

One arrest as gardaí seize €75k drugs, 41 vehicles, in crackdown on scramblers and e-scooters

Gardaí searched 20 properties in Clondalkin, Ballyfermot, Rathcoole, Ronanstown, and Lucan on Thursday

Thu, 24 Apr, 2025

Gardaí seize dozens of e-bikes and freeze related €100k bank account

Gardaí seize dozens of e-bikes and freeze related €100k bank account

JPC chairman Daithí Doolan said: 'Yesterday’s action will strengthen our resolve to stand up the criminals who think they are holding us all to ransom'

Wed, 23 Apr, 2025

Oliver Davis: Ireland may be in the midst of a psychedelic renaissance

Oliver Davis: Ireland may be in the midst of a psychedelic renaissance

Some academics believe ancient Irish use of psychoactive substances — magic mushrooms, liberty cap, and fly agaric — foreshadows the adoption of psychedelic drugs in modern medicine

Mon, 14 Apr, 2025

Man, 20s, arrested as €10,000 worth of cocaine seized in Kerry

Man, 20s, arrested as €10,000 worth of cocaine seized in Kerry

Gardaí say he drugs seized will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) for analysis and investigations are ongoing

Wed, 09 Apr, 2025

Accused threw white powder down toilet in Cork garda station

Accused threw white powder down toilet in Cork garda station

Judge Colm Roberts told the man: 'I’m seeing you too much — I don’t want to see you, you don’t want to see me'

Wed, 02 Apr, 2025

Drugs and contraband worth over €2.7m seized in Dublin, Louth, and Rosslare

Drugs and contraband worth over €2.7m seized in Dublin, Louth, and Rosslare

Tobacco products with an estimated value of over €1.9m were seized, as well as 33kg of herbal cannabis, with an estimated value of €666,600

Tue, 01 Apr, 2025

Positive cocaine test result in seized drug package from police trafficking operation.

Cartel submarines getting 'bigger and better' at smuggling drugs into Europe, warns former garda

South American cartels are using advanced semi-submersible vessels to smuggle drugs into Europe, with Ireland potentially at risk

Fri, 28 Mar, 2025

Gardaí consider recommending organised crime charges against arrested members of 'The Family' crime group

Gardaí consider recommending organised crime charges against arrested members of 'The Family' crime group

‘The Family’, based in the Ballyfermot and Clondalkin areas of west Dublin, has operated for almost three decades

Tue, 25 Mar, 2025

Micheal Murphy

Businessman arrested after seizure of €10.6m cocaine haul is refused bail

The man aged in his 60s appeared before a special sitting of Gorey District Court on Sunday

Sun, 23 Mar, 2025

Four men arrested as gardaí seize €350,000 worth of drugs in Meath

Four men arrested as gardaí seize €350,000 worth of drugs in Meath

Gardaí seized 12kgs of cannabis herb, 400gs of heroin, 8 bars of cannabis resin, and cannabis oils/gels/jellies and vapes

Thu, 20 Mar, 2025

Nathan McDonnell 'looking forward to co-operating' and getting out of prison as soon as possible

Nathan McDonnell 'looking forward to co-operating' and getting out of prison as soon as possible

One prison source said that it was widely known that McDonnell was under threat by some factions of the Kinahan cartel in prison prior to the attack and was astounded that it was possible

Fri, 07 Mar, 2025

PSNI fined for major data breach

Suspected £6.5m drugs haul seized in cross-border crackdown

Cannabis, cocaine and ketamine are believed to have been discovered concealed within food packaging

Tue, 04 Mar, 2025

Lawyer satisfied drugs case against Kerry businessman Nathan McDonnell now concluded

Lawyer satisfied drugs case against Kerry businessman Nathan McDonnell now concluded

Early guilty plea helped reduce headline sentence of 21 years to 12, says solicitor

Mon, 03 Mar, 2025

Irish study shows one in five drug and alcohol users have symptoms of ADHD

Irish study shows one in five drug and alcohol users have symptoms of ADHD

The study said screening for neurodiversity among people attending drug services should become part of the assessment process

Thu, 27 Feb, 2025

Former businessman at heart of Tralee drugs case barely recognisable after year in custody

S Former businessman at heart of Tralee drugs case barely recognisable after year in custody

A specific date for handing down the sentence hasn’t been identified but Nathan McDonnell is likely to hear about his fate by the end of the month

Tue, 11 Feb, 2025

14 million euro drug seizure

Gardaí ‘severely disrupted’ activities of organised crime gang after €14m cocaine seizure

Three men have been arrested following a major garda operation following months of planning by officers involved

Wed, 05 Feb, 2025

Weight-loss ‘wonder drugs’ show a darker side as some fall into illness

Weight-loss ‘wonder drugs’ show a darker side as some fall into illness

Incorrect use of drugs such as Ozempic or Mounjaro can carry a big risk, writes Liz Dunphy

Sat, 01 Feb, 2025

Three inmates overdose on synthetic drug in Cork Prison

Three inmates overdose on synthetic drug in Cork Prison

There were two mass casualty overdoses at the Midlands Prison last September linked to spice — one involving 11 inmates and the second involving seven

Tue, 28 Jan, 2025

Never leave your drink alone

Hotelier warns of 'scourge' of spiking in Cork City bars after son hospitalised

John Gately says his 21-year-old son, Tom, was spiked earlier this week

Fri, 17 Jan, 2025

'Mothership' suspected of carrying €100m worth of cocaine searched off Kerry coast

'Mothership' suspected of carrying €100m worth of cocaine searched off Kerry coast

One man, aged 28, was arrested from the suspected mothership which was intercepted in the Shannon estuary on Wednesday

Fri, 17 Jan, 2025

Garda lantern sign

'Drugs mothership': Gardaí seek detention of four men arrested in Kerry

“Vast resources” have been deployed in the course of the investigation, Chief Superintendent Seamus Boland of the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau said

Wed, 15 Jan, 2025

Gardaí arrest three and seize €400k worth of drugs and goods in Dublin operation

Gardaí arrest three and seize €400k worth of drugs and goods in Dublin operation

More than 150 gardaí were involved in the swoop on organised crime gangs in Coolock and Raheny which have been operating nationally

Tue, 14 Jan, 2025

Packed courtroom as defendants in cocaine haul case await decision on dismissal

Packed courtroom as defendants in cocaine haul case await decision on dismissal

This Section 4E application is likely to take a number of days. If successful, the cases will be dismissed but if they fail, the trial can then commence

Tue, 14 Jan, 2025

FRANCE-DEMO-DRUG-CANNABIS

Teenagers whose parents are not against cannabis use four times more likely to take drug, study finds

Researchers said parental 'ambivalence' towards cannabis a key risk factor in children's use of drug

Mon, 06 Jan, 2025

Gardaí to use 'secret' vehicles and new speed cameras in push to catch reckless drivers

Gardaí to use 'secret' vehicles and new speed cameras in push to catch reckless drivers

It comes after nine people died in just nine days over the Christmas period with a further 20 receiving serious and life-threatening injuries

Tue, 31 Dec, 2024

drug syringe and cooked heroin on spoon. drug addict problem and therapy concept

Gardaí plan to 'take down' top drug gang known as The Family

Detectives hope to unlock digital devices such as phones after a search operation targeting 18 locations in Dublin and two cells in Portlaoise Prison

Fri, 20 Dec, 2024

Medically supervised injecting facility ‘a leap of faith’ for local community

Medically supervised injecting facility ‘a leap of faith’ for local community

The aim of the new centre is to bring street level, and highly public, drug use into a safer and more dignified environment, according to Merchants Quay Ireland CEO Eddie Mullins

Tue, 17 Dec, 2024

Cocaine imported into Limerick port has estimated street value of €105m

Cocaine imported into Limerick port has estimated street value of €105m

Detective Garda gave evidence that the €21m drugs haul contained 'pure cocaine' with 'a potential value of five times that amount on the street'

Mon, 16 Dec, 2024

Colombia arrests alleged ‘invisible’ cocaine trafficker wanted in the UK

Colombia arrests alleged ‘invisible’ cocaine trafficker wanted in the UK

Colombia arrested a suspected British drug trafficker they described as “invisible” due to his low-key lifestyle, which allowed him to remain anonymous while allegedly operating as a cartel’s co-ordinator of cocaine trafficking from the South ...

Fri, 13 Dec, 2024

Opioid Overdose Medicine Naxolone Available Via Vending Machine In Brooklyn

Cork City firefighters to begin carrying drug that reverses overdoses

Naloxone is a prescription-only medication used as an antidote to temporarily reverse the effects of opioid drugs

Wed, 11 Dec, 2024