Weapon seizures in Irish prisons surge by 70% in 2025
Gordon Deegan
Prison authorities, with the assistance of Gardaí, seized on average more than one weapon per day in Irish jails last year as the number of weapon seizures surged by 70 per cent.
New figures provided by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan, show that a total of 441 weapons were seized by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) across the Irish prison estate in 2025.
The 441 weapons seized last year are a 70 per cent increase on the 260 weapons seized in 2024.
In a written Dáil reply to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín, O’Callaghan further revealed that a total of 1,163 drug seizures were made - more than three per day on average in 2025.
The 1,163 drug seizures compared to 1,035 for 2024 and represents a 12 per cent increase.
Prison authorities seized a further 1,647 illegally held mobile phones in 2025, which is a 33 per cent increase on the 1,236 mobile phones seized in 2024.
Gardaí made 84 arrests in 2025 arising from the seizures, as any suspected drug seizure is passed to the Gardaí for further investigation.
In his written reply to Tóibín, O’Callaghan states that the IPS, together with An Garda Síochána, “have completed several very successful collaborative operations in the past year, delivering significant results, including multiple arrests and prosecutions linked to attempts to introduce drugs and other contraband into prisons by drone or throw-over”.
He said: “This intelligence-led, multi-agency co-operation is effectively detecting and disrupting attempted delivery of contraband into prisons, and improving communication pathways regarding supply, availability, typology and impact of illicit substances in prisons.
O’Callaghan added, “The prevention of access to contraband within prisons will always be a high priority for the IPS. IPS staff work tirelessly to take steps to prevent access to contraband and to reduce the flow of illicit substances into our prisons”.
He said the IPS “has committed to continuing to invest in new technologies and measures to support efforts to keep contraband out of prisons. This includes security measures such as the installation of nets over exercise yards, vigilant observation of prisoners by staff, enhanced CCTV monitoring, the stricter control of visits, the use of random drug testing and daily targeted searches”.
"It is the case that over 70% of people committed to prison have issues with substance abuse. All prisoners on committal are assessed and a treatment plan is agreed for those who wish to address their substance abuse issues while in prison custody”.
