Health experts are keeping a close eye on drug trends after what is thought to be the third seizure in Ireland of a new synthetic stimulant. It comes as the State’s forensic testing agency plans a series of measures to improve drug testing services amid calls from HSE bosses for more active monitoring of the market to allow for speedy alerts to drug users.

This is against the background of an increase in the strength of drugs such as ecstasy (MDMA) and a rise in the presence of other lesser known but often more potent chemicals, either contained in ecstasy tablets or purporting to be ecstasy. In a routine operation at postal centres on Tuesday, Revenue officers seized a wide range of drugs, including what they said were small quantities of “CMC crystals”......