Drugs sold through ‘hidden’ websites

By Cormac OKeeffe

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Irish suppliers of synthetic drugs are buying the substances through a sophisticated encrypted online system, according to a drugs researcher.

Tim Bingham said these drugs were "widely available" over the internet and said he expected the scale of the problem to get worse.

He said users "didnt have a clue" what was in the product they might be buying from dealers here.

His comments come as garda and customs officers continue to investigate the importation of 23kg of synthetic drugs into Waterford City in a controlled delivery operation.

A 32-year-old man arres-ted in the city is expected to be charged in relation to the investigation. Garda recovered 18kg of a synthetic drug mix at an apartment in the city on Monday.

The haul is a mixture of three different substances PVP, methylone, and flephedrone which mimic the effects of street drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine and amphetamine. It is thought to be the first time PVP has been seized in Ireland.

It is understood that in addition to the 18kg seized, a further 5kg was en route in the post.

Garda sources said there were reports of the postal system being increasingly used to import these drugs.

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Drugs sold through ‘hidden’ websites