Gardaí have seized tens of thousands of euros worth of cannabis jellies and herb during a “search operation” at a property in Santry, north Dublin.
“At approximately 1pm on Thursday afternoon, Gardaí conducted a search under warrant at a property in Santry,” the Garda press office said in a statement.
“During the course of the search, suspected cannabis jellies with an estimated value of €38,000 were seized. A vacuum packing machine and the distinct cannabis jellies packaging was also discovered within the property.
“Suspected cannabis herb valued at €27,000 was also seized during the course of the search operation. All suspected drugs are subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland (FSI).”
According to authorities, one man aged in his 30s was arrested at the scene, and is currently being detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 for questioning at a Garda station in North Dublin.
In January of last year, the HSE issued a “risk communication” on the emergence of “synthetic cannabinoids” appearing in cannabis and THC products.
“A small number of hospitalisations have occurred following the consumption of edible products (Jolly Rancher jellies) during the period of December 2022 in the Tipperary Region,” they said.
“Upon analysis from Forensic Science Ireland, these edible products have been found to contain new and risky substances known as synthetic cannabinoids.”
In recent years Ireland has seen cases of pre-teen children unwittingly consuming cannabis-infused jellies they come across thinking they’re regular sweets, leading in some cases to hospitalisation. Last February 3 children at a house in West Dublin were hospitalised after they became ill from eating such jellies.
Previously, Chief Executive of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), Dr. Pamela Byrne, called THC a “toxic contaminant” and warned strongly against the consumption of cannabis-infused sweets.
“We are warning consumers about the dangers from eating these sweets with cannabis products added,” she said.
“People should only ever buy food from reputable sources and be sure they check the food labels. THC is not classified as food in the EU and is a controlled substance in Ireland.
“This new development is a sinister attempt to sell narcotics in the form of sweets and those involved are obviously not concerned about the consequences of these products getting into the hands of vulnerable people like children who could consume these products unwittingly to the detriment of their health.”