Drugs

The drugs market in Northern Ireland remains at a relatively low level in terms of suppliers and users. However it is still viewed by organised criminal gangs as an important source of income.

Cannabis

Cannabis remains the most commonly seized illicit drugs in Northern Ireland and was found in around 89% of all PSNI drugs seizures in 2010/11. There has been a change in the type of cannabis being used with a move away from cannabis resin in favour of herbal cannabis. In the 2003/04 financial year herbal cannabis was seized in 5% of all PSNI drugs seizure, this figure had risen to 46% during the 2010/11 financial year.

Cocaine & Amphetamines

In 2010/11 financial year the PSNI made an average of 28 cocaine seizures per month with a total of 7.8kg of cocaine seized in 2010/11. A total of 11.2kg of Amphetamine was seized during the same period. Both cocaine and amphetamine are “cut” numerous times before they reach the end user. This is particularly true in Northern Ireland which is usually at the end of the drugs supply chain and often sees the lowest purity levels in the UK. It is not unusual for amphetamine in Northern Ireland to have a purity level of less than 3% and for cocaine to have a purity of less than 10%

Legal Highs

Legal highs/new drugs is a trend that continues in Northern Ireland. Legal highs are usually bought from “head shops” or over the internet and are often branded “not for human consumption”. They can have extremely serious impact on the user’s health.

 


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