Using the latest forensic techniques, scientists at Dublin’s City University have discovered that One hundred percent of banknotes in the Republic of Ireland carry traces of cocaine. The researchers were said to be “surprised by their findings”. Some of the notes had such high levels of cocaine on them that it is thought they were used to snort the drug. Others had much lower traces and may have been cross-contaminated, perhaps in the wallets or pockets of users. The results are similar to other similar scientific studies from other countries such as the UK and Spain where cocaine has also been found on a high proportion of notes. The study found that higher value banknotes, such as 20 and 50 euros, were more likely to contain greater traces of the drug.

Spanish researchers also recently published a study that revealed that traces of cocaine can be found on 94 percent of banknotes in Spain, a country that has one of the world’s highest rates of users. Cocaine now sells for as little as 60 euros ($80) a gram, or 5 euros ($7) a line, and it is regularly used by 1.6 percent of Spaniards, up from 0.9 percent in 1999, a government report said this month. Law enforcement agencies say cocaine is getting cheaper and more popular in Europe because of efforts to boost production by Colombian paramilitaries and rebels who need money for weapons. Spain is a major entry point to Europe for the smugglers.