Agricultural contractors say their industry is being used to launder drug money, as the problem of drug use across rural Ireland shows no sign of abating.
The comments come as drug treatment experts warn of an escalation of drug use among young farmers. Speaking from the midwest, contractors believe drug use is on the rise among young farmers, while drug dealers are investing drug money in agricultural machinery.
“We have heard stories of young lads being given tablets to stay awake (during silage season) and no one is saying anything about it because drugs seem to have become a normal part of life,” one contractor said. “We also have concerns about the number of contractors here in the midwest that have come on the scene suddenly, with a fleet of machinery that isn’t being financed.”
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