Man (30s) arrested and €140k cocaine seized in Limerick
A man has been arrested and around €140,000 of suspected cocaine has been seized following a search at a premises in Limerick city.
Gardaí executed a search warrant at a residence in the Englishtown area of the city shortly after 3pm on Tuesday, May 20th.
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The search was conducted by gardaí from the Divisional Drugs Unit in conjunction with a number of regional units as part of ongoing investigations targeting the sale and supply of controlled drugs in the Limerick area.
During the search, gardaí discovered and seized around 2kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of €140,000, pending analysis.
A man in his 30s was arrested at the scene for an offence contrary to Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977/84 and is being detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a garda station in the southern region.
The seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis, and investigations are ongoing, a garda statement said.
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The Sun
25 minutes ago
- The Sun
Dark curse ravaging ‘UK's best high street' as pregnant mums targeted & criminals stamp sinister QR codes to lamp posts
PERCHED on a bench and sprawled on the manicured grass, four men and a women enjoy a loud animated conversation, swearing and oblivious to the young families nearby as they puff on cannabis joints. They're soon joined by a dealer who brazenly rattles through his drug menu: 'I've got C (cocaine), keti-cut (ketamine cut with cocaine), xans (the antidepressant Xanax) gabbies (pregabalin – a prescription drug often used for epilepsy), anything you need,' he says. 15 15 It's the kind of illegal trade that draws regular users to Pride Hill in Shrewsbury town centre - a sad indication of how a sharp rise in cocaine and drug use is blighting the area boasting 'Britain's best high street' according to The Telegraph. No longer an after-dark secret in sprawling social housing estates, brazenly buying and selling gear in broad daylight just off the main pedestrianised shopping area is a common sight in Shrewsbury. 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Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
‘A loan to fund my divorce left me homeless and £300k in debt'
Shelley Kavanagh knew getting divorced would be expensive. But she never imagined it would leave her homeless and saddled with a six-figure debt. The 55-year-old mother-of-three went from living in a seven-bedroom house to struggling to rent a flat after taking out a loan to fund her legal costs. She said: 'By the time everything unravelled, the combined loan and legal costs had far exceeded my assets, leaving me financially ruined.' The Telegraph has spoken to several women who were advised by their solicitors to fund their divorces using huge loans that devastated their finances. The loans – provided by litigation funders – were borrowed against the marital home so they could only be repaid following the sale of the property. Until then interest piled up at a rate of 18pc. This eye-watering level of interest meant that by the time the women came to sell up, the debt had eroded the equity in their homes. Campaigners are now calling for tighter regulation of lenders trying to cash in on divorce. 'It had a direct impact on my children' Ms Kavanagh's ordeal began when she was introduced to Novitas, one of the best-known divorce lenders, in 2015 by her solicitors. A housewife at the time, she agreed to borrow £150,000 to finance her divorce. The initial interest rate was 18pc – adding £27,000 in the first year, not including other charges. By the time the divorce was over, the debt had ballooned to over £300,000. She said: 'My credit rating was destroyed, and I became homeless. This had a direct impact on my children, as my unstable housing situation meant overnight stays with me were nearly impossible. Even finding a rental property became a challenge, as landlords were reluctant to accept tenants with poor credit histories.' Ms Kavanagh, who now lives in Oxfordshire, had to move in with her father while she got back on her feet. 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One mother, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Telegraph she wished she had just walked away and left her ex-husband everything rather than get divorced because at least then she would not be in debt. Ms Heys said: 'Some people are so traumatised that they just can't handle it.' She said the debt had also had a profound impact on the children of the women affected, as many were now living in rental accommodation. 'Renting in this country is very precarious because people can give you notice and get you out in two months. And that's the situation most of these children have found themselves in.' Ms Heys and Ms Kavanagh want those affected to know they may be able to seek redress through the FOS. But they also want greater awareness of the risks of litigation loans for those going through a divorce. Former MP Seema Kennedy, of campaign group Fair Civil Justice, said: 'These appalling cases highlight the urgent need for reform. 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Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Female traveller reveals reason she feels safer in Spain than in the UK
A British expat living in Spain has revealed she feels safer in her adopted country than her homeland - and her reason why puts the UK in the shade. Mother-of-two Carley Chaplin, who moved with her family to near Barcelona more than 18 months ago, said she had been especially impressed by 'how rapid and effective the police are here in Spain.' The content creator, who shares videos about her new life abroad to her more than 30,000 followers, revealed how swiftly police officers recently dealt with a situation that arose in her neighbourhood just hours before she travelled back to the UK for a visit. After noticing a woman 'acting very strangely', the family called the police and said they had turned up 'within two minutes'. Posting a video in April, Ms Chaplin said: 'Just had another really good example of how rapid and effective the police are here in Spain. 'Got up very early this morning to go to the airport because we're heading to the UK to see family over Easter. 'And we were leaving the house at 4am as you do. And there was some random woman ringing the doorbell of one of the apartments across the street, which is strange at 4am. 'Anyway, we were a bit concerned because we're leaving our home and you know there's always a worry about [someone] getting in when you're not there. The content creator revealed how swiftly police officers recently dealt with a situation that arose in her neighbourhood Ms Chaplin moved with her family from the UK to near Barcelona more than 18 months ago 'And she was acting very very strangely. So we rang the local police and within two minutes they were there talking to this woman. 'Now it turns out she was known to them. 'But I just thought that was another fantastic example of how the police here in Spain and particularly in Catalonia are so responsive and deal with things rapidly and effectively.' And Ms Chaplin is certainly not alone in her sentiments, judging by a recent poll. The 2024 Global Peace Index ranked Spain as the 23rd safest country in the world while the UK placed 34th out of 163 countries. But it seems Spain isn't the only Mediterranean country winning over British expats. A similar story is unfolding in Greece, where another UK native has found not just a new home, but a better way of life. Brit-Venezuelan Daniel Carrizalez upped sticks from London in the UK and settled down in Nafplio in the Peloponnese region with his family back in 2010. Fourteen years later, the 49-year-old music composer and online entrepreneur has relocated with his wife and four-month-old daughter and has since had another daughter in Greece. He told MailOnline Travel: 'We were drawn to the Mediterranean lifestyle, rich culture and beautiful landscapes. Greece offered a slower, more fulfilling pace of life and a chance to raise our family surrounded by history, nature and strong community values.' Daniel said he'd never experienced such an amazing 'sense of community' before moving to Greece. He revealed: 'The biggest surprise has been the deep, genuine friendliness of people here. The warmth and hospitality are even more pronounced than I expected. Greeks go out of their way to make you feel welcome.' The relaxed and wholesome Greek lifestyle has been the biggest bonus to moving for Daniel, who loves 'being surrounded by natural beauty every day' and people who 'genuinely care about each other'. The Brit explained that 'crime isn't a significant problem in Nafplio' and although there's 'petty crime', it 'generally feels very safe and people look out for each other.' While the lifestyle is a definite improvement on the UK, Daniel admits that bureaucracy is more of a challenge in Greece. He explained: 'The pace can be a bit slower. Things like paperwork and setting up services can take longer than in the UK, which can be frustrating. Things tend to be more streamlined in the UK.' Also, driving in Greece can be something of 'an adventure', says Daniel with 'narrow and winding rural roads' presenting a challenge. But he adds that 'the views make it worthwhile'. So how did the family settle on Nafplio, a coastal city about a two-hour drive from Athens, as their new home? Daniel explains: 'It's known for its historical significance, beautiful architecture and seaside charm. It's a perfect blend of culture, scenery and close-knit community, plus it offers a wonderful environment for our family.' Eating out is 'fantastic', adds Daniel, who loves the country's emphasis on fresh and local ingredients'. His favourite restaurant is a 'magical' taverna called in Nafplio's old town with views of the sea and Bourtzi castle. So, would he recommend other Brits make the move?
