Gardaí believe Cork drugs ‘pipeline’ is linked to gangs in Spain and Colombia
Search on for the ‘mother ship’ after 10 men arrested
Gardaí believe a drug-smuggling pipeline successfully thwarted in the southwest was operated by a Spanish-based narcotics trafficking gang with links to a Colombian cartel.
Police forces around Europe are now liaising with gardaí to identify the “mother ship” that is suspected to have been attempting to unload high-grade cocaine off the coast of west Cork.
It is believed no drugs arrived in west Cork. Authorities are unsure if the mission was aborted due to gang fears over police surveillance or poor sea conditions.
Ten men were arrested in a major garda operation on Thursday morning. Gardaí last night secured a 72-hour extension to their detention period.
A campervan and articulated lorry were seized in the course of the arrests. A rigid inflatable boat (Rib) is also being examined.
The 10 men arrested have addresses in Ireland, Britain, Spain and the Netherlands. They range in age from 25 to 56.
They are being held at a number of garda stations across Cork city and county, including Mallow, Bandon, Bantry, Togher and Bridewell.
It is understood one of the Dutchbased individuals is known to police in several European countries for his association with key members of an international drugs gang.
Several of the arrests involved men who were found soaking wet after apparently being in local estuaries and inshore areas.
A number of those arrested are understood to be qualified divers.
One theory being examined by gardaí is that drug shipments may have been hidden under water at specific locations off the south-west coast until the gang believed it was safe to bring the consignment to land.
Searches are ongoing, but no major drug consignment has been found.
Detectives believe the planned shipment involved a large haul of cocaine, most likely sourced from Colombia via Venezuela.
While gardaí believe the drugs were going to west Cork, it is suspected a large portion of the consignment was destined for the UK.
One of those detained for questioning is known to have associations with a Spanish-based gang that imports cocaine sourced from a cartel based in Medellin in Colombia.
The arrests involved garda units in Cork as well as the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
A garda spokesperson stated: “An Garda Síochána commenced an operation in west Cork (on Thursday). During the course of the operation, 10 males were arrested.
“All 10 males continue to be detained under organised crime legislation. A number of vehicles were also detained and remain detained subject to ongoing technical examination.”
Four people were arrested in one raid after a campervan was stopped on Thursday morning.
The luxury vehicle was ordered to a stop by armed gardaí near a crossroads outside Leap village, Co Cork.
The four occupants were detained on the roadway while a preliminary inspection of the campervan was conducted by detectives.
It was later removed for forensic and technical examination.
The other six males were arrested at a variety of locations.
Detectives are tracing the movements of the men and are communicating with ports and airports in an attempt to find out when they arrived in Ireland.
Gardaí also conducted searches in Tragumna, west Cork.
The operation was triggered when a man reported what he believed to be suspicious activity near Tragumna early on Thursday morning.
However, garda sources said a number of individuals had been under surveillance for some time. This is in relation to activity linked to suspected drug smuggling and distribution.
One source indicated that the operation was entirely intelligence-led.
It represented the culmination of months of undercover work and surveillance by garda anti-drugs units.
The Coast Guard and Naval Service are liaising with gardaí in respect of specific vessel movements off the southwest coast over the past week.
Radar records and port data are being examined to determine which vessels were off the coast of west Cork over the past fortnight.
Gardaí are being assisted by Interpol and police in the UK, France, Spain and the Netherlands.
‘One theory being examined is that the shipments may have been hidden under water’