The RTÉ Investigates team will look at the selling and usage of crack cocaine and heroin in North Dublin in a new special report on Prime Time tonight.

It comes as figures released today show that there has been a 400% increase in people seeking treatment for crack cocaine addiction in our nation's capital from 2014-2020, from a base of just 84 cases seven years ago according to Dr Anne Marie Carew, Research Officer for the Health Research Board,

"The level of open drug dealing we have here just would not be tolerated in other communities, in more advantaged communities in this country," says Andrew Montague Former Lord Mayor of Dublin & Author of Brighter Futures.

"There would be an outcry, and something would be done about it."

The report will include hidden camera footage of a drug-dealing corner, where on the first day alone, RTÉ's cameras picked up 42 instances in just a four-hour period.

In a statement An Garda Síochana said, there are currently 31 members of the Gardaí assigned to the Divisional Drugs Unit in the North Dublin Area, almost 10% of the Drug Unit Gardaí in the country. They also point out that they do not have any blanket or general powers of stop and search.

"Stop and serach" or "stop and frisk" is a controversial practice that has been widely condemned in the United States and the UK after its use there.

The episode will air during Primetime tonight on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player tonight at 9.30 pm.