HEROIN ON SALE FOR JUST £20

HEROIN can be bought on the streets of Banbridge for as little as £20, a Leader investigation has revealed.

The drug was seized by local police from dealers and drug-takers for the first time in 2008 in both tablet and powder form but the PSNI says it could have been available long before then.

A local woman who contacted the Leader said the drug is widely available in the area.

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She said, "The amount you would get for about 20 or 30 on the streets wouldn't be any bigger than the size of your wee finger, but if you took it all at once it could be strong enough to kill you.

"It's a dirty, dirty colour - like the colour of sand."

Heroin, a Class A drug derived from opiate which comes from the Asian poppy plant, is recognised as being one of the most addictive drugs around.

The woman told the Leader, "The dealers mix it with other stuff so they can sell less pure forms of it for more money. I've known one of them to get in maybe 600 worth of heroin and have it all sold within an hour.

"I know a girl of 22 whose life has been ruined by it but he doesn't care. He would sell it to anyone as long as he's getting the money."

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Area Commander, Chief Inspector Ken Mawhinney, said, "We will continue to work to address these issues through close liaison with the community and these agencies but we need the continued support of the people of Banbridge to help us take these drugs off the streets. The more support and information we get, the more we are able to achieve towards making this community safer for everyone.

"Anyone detected indulging in illegal drug activity will be dealt with appropriately; and may face prosecution."

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