Spiralling heroin abuse has sparked fears among top gardaí of a crime timebomb across the country, it was warned today.
Provisional figures from the Garda National Drugs Unit show that last year's huge rise in seizures of the lethal substance was not a blip.
More than 120 kilos of heroin was recovered this year - roughly the same as 2006 - which is significantly up on previous years, according to a senior garda source.
Gardaí are now concerned that there are not enough resources outside Dublin to cope with future problems linked to the surge in heroin abuse.
"Years ago when we got three or four kilos it was a big concern - in the 80s," the garda source said. "There are repercussions with heroin. You need drug treatment centres more so than for cocaine.
"Dublin has some, the problem will be in the country when heroin addicts decide at some stage to go and get treatment, the treatment will not be available and it will cause terrible problems.
"There's likely to be an increase in crime locally, burglaries and larceny to feed the heroin [habit]."
Recent bumper poppy crops in the likes of Afghanistan have added to the concerns of a continuing rise in heroin being trafficked into Ireland. The focus on heroin comes despite the recent media spotlight on the rising use of cocaine.
Around 1,700 kilos of cocaine was recovered this year, but most of this - 1,500 kilos - was seized at Dunlough Bay, Co Cork, in July. This compares with the 190 kilos of cocaine recovered the year before. Despite the high-profile haul off Co Cork, and finds by Donegal trawler men off the west of Ireland, gardaí said there is nothing to suggest major new trafficking routes into the country.
"There is no intelligence that large amounts are being imported by boats onto the coastline," said the garda source.
"It is not known if the finds off the west coast were for Ireland or some other jurisdiction.
"There might be a different method of concealment but the same routes are being generally used, from South America into Spain and from there across the rest of Europe in legitimate cargo.
"The only other difference in the last two years is that cocaine is now coming from South America to West Africa and being transported from there to Europe by different means."
Cannabis resin is still the most widely used illegal drug in the State although seizures dropped from 6.9 tonne in 2006 to two tonne this year. However Cannabis herb - also known as 'grass' - has seen a massive jump from 289 kilos last year to 1,800 kilos recovered in the past 12 months.
"It is being seized throughout the country. It is now more potent than what it was. More people are looking for it. There was very little seizures of it up to 2004," the garda source said.
Ecstasy has also seen a huge rise, with 400,000 tablets seized this year up from 146,000 last year while recovered amphetamines - or 'speed'- was down to 30 kilos from 38 kilo.
PA