As a result of routine operations, Revenue officers in Shannon and Cork airports seized seven separate packages containing the controlled drug Kratom, worth a total estimated value of €66,000.
Some €41,000 of the total was seized at Shannon. The drugs were in powder and capsule form and were destined for Clare, Cork and Galway.
Kratom comes from a tropic tree, grown in South East Asia. At low doses it has cocaine-like stimulant effects, but at higher doses it can have sedative-narcotic effects.
It is either chewed, smoked or made into a tea and long term effects of its use can include psychosis.
The controlled drugs were in powder and capsule form and were destined for addresses in Clare, Cork and Galway.
Investigations are ongoing.
These routine operations are part of Revenue’s ongoing work targeting smuggling and shadow economy activity. If businesses, or members of the public have any information, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.