Ireland to become part of European ports network to deal with drug trafficking

Irish authorities have set up a high-level implementation group to join a European ports network tasked with tackling the booming sea trade in international drug trafficking.

As the Irish Examiner reports, the move comes as EU officials try to address growing concerns at the corruption of port officials and workers, sometimes through severe threats, and incidents, of violence and intimidation and as European seizures now exceed that of the US, traditionally the world’s largest cocaine market.

In Ireland, more than 300kg of cocaine was seized in Foynes in Co Limerick last December.

Two months earlier, 2.25 tonnes of cocaine worth more than €150 million was found onboard a bulk cargo vessel off the Cork coast.

In February of this year, more than half a tonne of crystal methamphetamine worth more than €30 million was seized in Ringaskiddy in Cork.

The EU drugs agency and the EU Home Affairs Directorate have warned that South American drug cartels are increasingly targeting…