COCAINE HAUL ORGANISERS PLANNED TO OFFLOAD SHIPMENT TO ANOTHER BOAT OFF ROSSLARE
The organisers of the 80 million euro cocaine haul off the Cork coast planned to offload the shipment from their yacht to another boat off the County Wexford coast – it’s been revealed.
It’s unclear whether the drugs would have been unloaded in Ireland for onward transfer to the UK and Europe.
Three men remain in Garda custody in Cork this morning following the planned seizure of the yacht on Tuesday morning.
The Independent newspaper reports a second boat arrived at Rosslare last week and was discreetly checked out by gardai and Customs officers, but was not detained for operational reasons.
They say two of its three-man crew have been arrested by police in West Yorkshire in England.
Officers are satisfied the gang purchased the cocaine in a deal with a Colombian drugs cartel and then loaded it onto the yacht in Venezuelan waters.
It also emerged last night that the joint task force, comprised of the Naval Service, Garda and Customs officers, accelerated their plan to intercept the 60ft yacht as they feared it could founder in heavy seas off the south west coast.
Assistant Garda Commissioner John O’Mahony said initial lab tests have confirmed the 41 bales, contained cocaine.
However, it will be several days before the purity of the cocaine and the street value can be confirmed.
