Customs officers have reported a large increase in the discovery of ecstasy in items entering the Republic in the postal service and in private courier parcels.
The drug is one of a range of synthetic substances being discovered with much greater frequency since head shops and the psychoactive products they sold were banned under legislation in 2010.
Gardaí and Customs officers also believe ecstasy has begun to make a return because it is much cheaper than cocaine, the consumption of which has decreased since the recession began and disposable incomes were hit.
In 2010 the value of ecstasy seized by Customs stood at €3,390. Last year this increased to 41,000 tablets and 3kg of the drug in seizures throughout the year, with a combined estimated value of €700,000.
Customs reports rise in ecstasy seizures (Conor Lally, Irish Times)
Trade in banned head shop drugs grows via postal system (Irish Times)