The discovery of a huge haul of cocaine at Cork Port directly imported from Central America again raises concerns regarding the shipment of massive consignments to Ireland and through Irish waters for the local and British markets.
It also highlights the extent to which Irish and British crime groups are engaged in operations with drug cartels in South and Central America.
The 25kg haul has an estimated street value of €1.75m. But given the purity of the cocaine is likely to be very high, it would have had a final value of multiples of that once diluted.
It is the latest in a number of major cocaine hauls intercepted coming into Ireland or passing through its waters in recent months.
Last December, 300kg of cocaine was seized in Portsmouth, England, following joint surveillance by the Garda National Drugs Unit and the British National Crime Agency.
The cocaine had originated in Columbia. Gardaí suspect that part of the shipment was bound for the Irish market and was organised by Irish and British crime groups.
Last September, the Navy intercepted the yacht Makayabella 500kms south west of Mizen Head, Co Cork, with some 1.1 tonnes of cocaine on board.
Source: Cormac O'Keeffe, Irish Examiner, 26/03/15
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