By David Raleigh
€21 million worth of suspected cocaine has been seized by customs aboard a cargo ship believed to be carrying grain which arrived at Foynes Port in Co. Limerick.
A major security operation involving Revenue Customs Service officials, supported by An Garda Siochána, following a massive cocaine seizure yesterday (Tuesday, December 19), is continuing this morning at the port.
Approximately 300kg of cocaine was discovered in a bale on a cargo ship at the port, and that it was connected to a beacon, which indicates the haul was possibly to be picked up by another vessel.
The cargo bulk carrier is flying under a southern European flag and is understood to have started its route to Foynes from a port in Canada on December 9. It arrived at Foynes at around 10:30a.m on Tuesday.
The 20,0000t vessel is believed to have been carrying a cargo of grain.
Revenue has confirmed today (Wednesday, December 20) that its staff boarded and searched a Maltese registered bulk cargo vessel at Foynes, which had arrived from Canada.
Revenue officers, including specialist search teams, supported by drug detector dogs, are continuing to search the vessel as part of a live and ongoing operation.
Revenue stated: “This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the importation of illegal drugs
“If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding drug smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.”
The agency has said that investigations are continuing and due to the live nature of the operation, no further comment is available at this time.
Meanwhile, gardaí have said that no arrests have been made yet and their investigations are ongoing.
The garda investigation is being led by the Limerick Division Crime Functional Area, supported by divisional resources, Regional Armed Support Unit, national units including the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) and international agencies, including MAOC(N).
It is the second large cocaine seizure in the state in a few months.
Last September 2,000kg of cocaine, worth €157 million – the largest seizure of its kind in the history of the state – was recovered when the bulk carrier, MV Matthew, was seized by authorities off the coast of Co. Cork.
Cocaine in frozen meat in NI
Meanwhile, the “largest seizure” of suspected Class A drugs in Northern Ireland was found by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) hidden within boxes containing frozen meat products last week.
The PSNI said the suspected cocaine was seized by Slieve Gullion Neighbourhood Policing Team officers during a routine patrol in south Armagh on Monday, December 11.
The drugs were uncovered after officers had stopped a “suspicious lorry” in the Jonesborough area.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Commander Superintendent, Norman Haslett, said at the time: “A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a large quantity of suspected cocaine concealed within boxes containing frozen meat products, worth an estimated street value of £10 million.
“A man, aged in his 30s, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of a number of driving-related offences.”
Additional reporting by Stella Meehan