Investigations are underway to uncover if one of the largest seizures of cocaine in the history of the State is linked to the Kinahan crime cartel or some other major trafficking gang.
The Irish Examiner reports that gardaí are investigating if the 172 kilograms of the drug found during a search in Ringaskiddy Port, Cork was destined for separate markets in Europe.
The drugs worth some €12 million were uncovered in containers that had arrived from Central America, in a joint operation on Thursday between the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) and Revenue’s customs service.
Sources said they were satisfied the ship that carried the containers took a similar route to previous shipments, originating from Costa Rica, Central America, and are investigating if the ship was due to dock in a number of ports.
Authorities in Costa Rica previously confiscated 133 kilograms of cocaine bound for Cork port in August 2018, with the consignment linked to the Kinahan cartel.
“We will investigate what organised crime groups were involved and part of that will be to establish if it’s the Kinahan group or another group,” a source told the Irish Examiner.
Shamrock marking
“This vessel could have been stopping in Ireland and going to other ports, so Ireland could be just one stopping point,” said a source.
This may suggest that a European organised crime group separate to the Kinahan cartel was behind the shipment, and Irish crime gangs were among various purchasers.
A photograph published by Garda HQ shows at least one of the cocaine blocks seized had a shamrock on it. Sources said an examination will be conducted on wrappings and markings on the blocks.
It is understood that gardaí and Revenue will liaise with international law enforcement agencies to gather intelligence on possible ports the cocaine was bound for and what gangs may have been involved.
