Drugs seizures in Irish prisons have doubled since 2016.
There have been over 1,400 so far this year, which is 14 per cent more than in all of last year.
The Irish Prison Service says several factors have led to an increase in drugs seizures in jails.
It says there has been an increase in 'throw-overs' - which involve people throwing mobile phones and drugs into exercise yards.
There has also been a rise in substances found in post, parcels, and prisoners' clothing.
By the end of last month, there were 1,425 drugs seizures in all Irish prisons.
That compares to 1,251 last year, which was the exact same as 2019.
There has been a gradual increase over several years, with just 715 in 2016.
Phone seizures have also doubled since then, with 1,290 taken from inmates this year, along with 279 weapons.
