Children as Young as Seven Used as Drug Mules and Dealers in Ireland

Children as young as seven are being groomed to work as drug mules and dealers across Ireland, a nationwide issue particularly prevalent in Dublin. RTÉ’s Prime Time undercover filming observed minors openly selling drugs in capital areas like O’Connell Bridge. Teenagers on e-scooters were filmed selling drugs in the inner-city, alerted by 'spotters' when gardaí approached.

Former child drug mule ‘Jonathan’ explained how criminals use children with backpacks to transport drugs, assuming they are going to school. Paula Butterly, a Fine Gael TD for Louth, confirmed schools in Drogheda reported children as young as seven carrying drugs in school bags and nine- and ten-year-olds selling them. The allure of money, offering hundreds of euros, entices vulnerable children from socio-economically disadvantaged areas, according to addiction counsellor Michael Guerin.

The system begins with children couriering small packages for €100-€150, building trust. They then progress to weighing, cutting, and packing drugs in houses, apartments, Airbnbs, or hotel rooms in suburbs, before selling them on the streets. E-scooters have revolutionized drug distribution, allowing dealers to travel at 60 km/h and evade gardaí, often splitting up in groups to avoid detection.

An Garda Síochána implemented a high-visibility policing plan in Dublin city centre in March 2025, resulting in nearly 6,500 arrests and 13,500 charges/summonses by March 2026. Proactive drug-related detections increased, with simple possession up 16% and obstruction offences up 27%. Criminologist Trina O’Connor noted the visible division of labor among young dealers in open-air markets. TD Butterly condemned criminals for preying on vulnerable children, emphasizing their right to a normal life.