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The Gardaí has not yet identified which organized crime gang is responsible for the largest drug seizure of the year with a value of more than 12 million euros, according to high-level sources.
About 172 kg of cocaine were seized in Cork yesterday as part of a major operation.
The joint operation of the Garda National Office for Drugs and Organized Crime and the Revenue Customs Service discovered cocaine with an estimated street value of 12.04 million euros in the port of Ringaskiddy.
The drugs were discovered after an intensive search for containers arriving on a ship from Costa Rica.
High-level sources say the Gardaí has yet to identify which organized crime gang is responsible for the seizure.
“There are very few gangs operating in this country that have the means to directly organize such a massive shipment from Central America,” said a source.
“However, there is no doubt that this would be within the capabilities of the Kinahan cartel or the international network controlled by The Penguin. [German-based drugs trafficker George Mitchell who is originally from Ballyfermot]. “
Nor has the Gardaí ruled out that a number of different organized crime gangs have “beaten together” to attract massive loot.
Deputy Commissioner John O’Driscoll confirmed this morning that the ship originated in Costa Rica.
He told RTE’s Morning Ireland: “Of course, it is significant in value, but it is indicative of the drug market routes that open up between the Americas and Europe.”
Deputy Commissioner O’Driscoll said Gardaí and Customs worked with law enforcement in Europe and “beyond” on the intelligence-led operation.
O’Driscoll confirmed that both agencies also had ties to the Maritime Operations and Analysis Center in Lisbon, which is run by Irishman Michael O’Sullivan, former head of the Garda’s National Office for Drugs and Organized Crime.
The sophisticated equipment used by Revenue Customs officials was used during the course of the intensive search for the vessel once it reached Ringaskiddy.
“Through international cooperation, and as a result of the intelligence and equipment now available to officers, this type of success can be achieved,” he noted.
Deputy Commissioner O’Driscoll said Gardaí is investigating whether the shipment was intended solely for the Irish market or whether it would move to the UK.
“Cocaine is the second largest illicit drug market in Europe. The EU drug market is valued at € 30 billion with the cocaine market. responsible for 9,000 million euros. It is estimated that there are four million cocaine users in this market ”.
O’Driscoll said there were 8,238 deaths in Europe from drug use in 2017 and said this “illustrates the importance of taking these drugs off the market. Firstly, to prevent the number of deaths from drug use, but also to prevent organized crime groups from accumulating large sums of money. “
Gardaí and Revenue have seized more drugs and money from organized crime gangs in the first two months of the year compared to any other year, Commissioner Asst O’Driscoll said.
So far there have been no arrests in the case.
This comes after O’Driscoll said in a statement that the joint operation “demonstrates the potential of collaborative working relationships involving partner agencies to address the importation of controlled drugs that harm our communities.
“The Garda Síochána will continue to work with others at the national and international levels in targeting the importation and supply of illicit drugs and the organized crime gangs that benefit from such activity.”
Mick Gilligan, Director of Customs Drug Control, also commented on the seizure: “Combating the smuggling of controlled drugs such as cocaine into this jurisdiction, in collaboration with An Garda Síochána, is a priority for Revenues.”
He said Revenue’s customs services had deployed the “full suite” of its specialized search resources, including its container X-ray scanner, canine drug detection teams, container inspection teams and deep search officers of its National Maritime Customs Service.
Mr. Gilligan said that the cocaine seizure “will have a significant impact on organized crime and demonstrates the hard work that the Revenue and Gardaí Customs Service do every day.”
Irish independent
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