€33m crystal meth haul7 ‘linked to El Chapo gang’
»»‘Sinaloa cell’ »»Searches in suspects held Cork and Kerry
Gardai along with Revenue Officers seized 546kg
BY
GARDAI arrested suspected members of a Sinaloa Cartel cell operating in Ireland following a nearly €33million “crystal meth” seizure yesterday.
The massive drug bust took place at Cork Port after the narcotics were found inside a shipping container.
Gardai and Revenue Officers seized 546kg of a synthetic drug, thought to be crystal meth, which has an estimated value of €32.8million.
They will now be analysed by Forensic Science Ireland.
The Irish Mirror understands the “value of the drug seizure is based on the street value in Ireland”.
Gardai from the Kerry and Cork Divisional Drugs Units alongside local cops were involved in the massive operation yesterday.
Follow-up searches in Cork and Kerry including one at a business premises led to the seizure of two firearms and the arrest of two men.
Both are in their 40s and were being held at Garda stations in the southern region of the country last night.
One of the men arrested is understood to be a key associate of Irishman Morris O’shea Salazar who is accused of being a leading member of Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel.
The Sinaloa Cartel is considered the largest narco-trafficking gang in the world and was previously led by drugs kingpin El Chapo – who is currently behind bars in the US.
Last year, we revealed Chilean investigators want to extradite O’shea, who was nicknamed Mexican when he was growing up in Killorglin in Co Kerry, from Mexico to face serious charges.
They want to charge him over an alleged plot to set up a so-called cell of the cartel in northern Chile in 2020 – during the Covid-19
CARTEL Irishman
Morris O’shea Salazar pandemic. The Irish Mirror understands that Gardai don’t believe yesterday’s multi-million euro seizure of the highly addictive drug was for an Irish market.
It is believed the massive haul was initially sent from Mexico where crystal meth is commonly produced before arriving in Ireland.
It is suspected the drugs were ultimately destined for Australia. Sources reckon crystal meth could be flogged for three times higher Down Under than the street value in Ireland.
Crystal meth is a highly addictive drug that is frequently used by addicts in the US. It is not widely used in Ireland.
In a statement, gardai said: “Following a joint operation at Cork Port between An Garda Siochana and Revenue’s Customs Service, a substantial drugs seizure was made.
“Gardai along with Revenue Officers seized 546kg of a synthetic drug, with an estimated value of €32.8million.
“Garda personnel from the Kerry Divisional Drugs Unit, Cork, and a number of Garda units were involved in the operation.
“Follow-up searches were conducted in Kerry and Cork which resulted in the arrests of two men and the seizure of two firearms. The men, both aged in their 40s are detained at Garda Stations in the Southern
Region.”