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Cocaine contaminates Irish euros | |
(1 day later) | |
Scientists in the Republic of Ireland have found traces of cocaine on all the banknotes they tested. | |
The team used the latest forensic techniques that would detect even the tiniest fragments to study a batch of 45 used banknotes. | |
The scientists at Dublin's City University said they were "surprised by their findings". | The scientists at Dublin's City University said they were "surprised by their findings". |
Some of the notes had such high levels of cocaine on them that it is thought they were used to snort the drug. | Some of the notes had such high levels of cocaine on them that it is thought they were used to snort the drug. |
Others had much lower traces and may have been cross-contaminated, perhaps in the wallets or pockets of users. | Others had much lower traces and may have been cross-contaminated, perhaps in the wallets or pockets of users. |
Growing cocaine use | Growing cocaine use |
The results fit with scientific findings from other countries such as the UK and Spain where cocaine has also been found on a high proportion of notes. | The results fit with scientific findings from other countries such as the UK and Spain where cocaine has also been found on a high proportion of notes. |
Cocaine particles stick to the cotton that is contained within the notes. | Cocaine particles stick to the cotton that is contained within the notes. |
Cocaine use is thought to be growing in Ireland. Professor Brett Paul, whose paper was published in a journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry in the UK, said it demonstrated how widespread the use of cocaine is. | Cocaine use is thought to be growing in Ireland. Professor Brett Paul, whose paper was published in a journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry in the UK, said it demonstrated how widespread the use of cocaine is. |
The study also found that higher value banknotes, such as 20 and 50 euros, were more likely to contain greater traces of the drug. | The study also found that higher value banknotes, such as 20 and 50 euros, were more likely to contain greater traces of the drug. |
In recent weeks there has been fresh focus in Ireland on the use of drugs in society. | In recent weeks there has been fresh focus in Ireland on the use of drugs in society. |
Dublin has seen a number of murders that have been linked to drugs gangs and Ireland's justice minister has said that those who buy cocaine are helping to finance such groups. | Dublin has seen a number of murders that have been linked to drugs gangs and Ireland's justice minister has said that those who buy cocaine are helping to finance such groups. |
One newspaper editorial said that the trend of cocaine use showed that there is something rotten at the heart of Ireland's economic boom. | One newspaper editorial said that the trend of cocaine use showed that there is something rotten at the heart of Ireland's economic boom. |
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