Customs has seized 33 orders of drugs, which were formerly sold in the controversial head shops that were shut down in 2010, worth an estimated €120,000 over the past year, new figures obtained by the Sunday Independent reveal.
At least 20 of these seizures were of drugs in powder format. These included Pentedrone - a new designer drug with stimulant effects 4MEC - previously reported as an active ingredient in fake Ecstasy pills; Ethylone - a stimulant and psychedelic; and Methylone - a central nervous system stimulant often sold in the form of bath salts.
Since May 2014, a total of 525 pills have been confiscated in 13 seizures.
Almost 200 of these were classed as benzodiazepines - also known as 'benzos', 'roofies' or 'downers'.
Although Revenue revealed that the majority of the powder and pills originated in Asian countries, it could not confirm that they were all bought over the internet.
"The drugs came through the postal system, including express mail and courier services but it is not possible for us to say categorically that the products we seize were ordered online," a Revenue spokesperson told the Sunday Independent.
Revenue's Customs Service detains and seizes products at the point of entry into the State, including seaport and airport, under both Customs and Medicines legislation.
Medicines detained by Customs are passed to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
Revenue also revealed that it has experienced "some Irish citizen involvement" in the trading of these products.
Source: Claire McCormack, Sunday Independent, 10/05/15
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