Organized crime in Ireland?

In my perception, organized crime is going down in Ireland, not up. However, it's quite possible that Ireland is still an entry point for drugs into the EU and the UK, especially if long coast lines are not patrolled efficiently. Who knows if there are fishermen out there in need of extra cash?

Do you think the Guards are ill equipped or ill trained to deal with the matter?

Diesel laundering? Maybe less prevalent and lucrative now as afaik there are different markers used in the fuel that are more difficult to remove.

Some very unsavoury characters involved in this "business".

There are protection rackets in cities, door security, construction site security, monthly not getting burnt down fees. Many legitimate shops pay these routinely.

Some "gangs" terrorise their local area.

A massive issue is dis organized crime where drug addicts have drug debts that need to be repaid. This creates hundreds of house burglaries for petty cash, and sometimes shootings and assignations are used to pay back debt and encourage others with debt to also rob friends and family to get the money to pay their debt. Pipe bombs on doorsteps are somewhat common.

There is also other underground gangs such as Chinese gangs in Dublin involved in gambling, cash businesses, employing illegals.

There is an underground grow house market renting houses, growing cannabis, and those looking after crops often don't speak English or even know where they are.

The red light businesses and people trafficking are also here too with Russian gangs etc.

Northern Ireland has an even bigger history in recent history, all similar with certain gangs 100% owning their area of control.

While they may all be somewhat dis organized, they do work as a team or clan or group typically with one family or person at the top. The Gardai leave some alone, if they don't rock the boat, and others are hard to prosecute beside the low level grunts.

The massive mark up on drugs generates insane cash in short periods.

No, it's not a deterrent by any means but guess what? he's making a hell load of dosh for those in the legal business (sorry legal industry) That's all that matters to these vermin. Not much use to them locking up this guy for 20 years (which should happen). Who would fund their film-star lifestyles then.?? 😉

Some countries like Thailand have the death penalty for drug-trafficking, but I know from personal experience that people still buy and sell drugs in that country. Cocaine dealers sell to consenting people, they don't trick or force you to buy it. A "blight on society" that's a bit over the top, anytime I see people taking coke they're getting enjoyment from it. A lot of high-achievers have used it. Why not give legalization a try, if it doesn't work out revert to prohibition.

Often hear that but how would it work? Have shops selling heroin,cocaine,grass, tablets to anyone? Would it not be just the current dealers running the shops?

Assume price’s the same so junkies still doing petty crimes to get the money to buy?

interesting take on one of the most moreish substances in the world.

There you go again with your crystal ball, using the word "will" when talking about the future, that's just your opinion, it can't be a fact 'cos it hasn't happened yet. If cocaine is so addictive, how come I'm not an addict or any of the other users I know. A tiny minority do take too much but they often have underlying issues in their live and prohibition hasn't prevented that.

Opinions are fine as long as you don't try to pass them off as facts. According to your link, if I read it correctly, 72,000 people in Ireland have used coke in the last 12 months. 42 people died from it in 2016 and 53 in 2017, 228 people were treated for non-fatal overdoses in 2019. That is a tiny minority of 72k.

WE had Head shops which sold lots of Drug Poppers and tablets about 15 years ago , these had to be closed down as that crap became normalized and hundreds of youngsters became addicted over a very short time and there was a significant spike in mental health problems for users .

How would cocaine/heroin shops/clinics be any different?.

I knew a fella who used to specialise in selling Filofaxes to all manner of dodgy people so that they could properly streamline and manage their activities.

He worked in very organised crime.

I'll get me coat

(Joke robbed from some comedian whom I can't remember)