€2m swoop strikes at heart of cocaine ring
Gardai have smashed a link between a Dublin drug-trafficking gang and their suppliers in Britain.
An operation resulted in the seizure of eight kilos of cocaine with a potential street value of up to €2.3m.
The cocaine was seized in a holdall bag after members of the Garda national drugs unit stopped and searched a car at Pearse Square, off Pearse Street, shortly before 10am yesterday.
Two Dublin men, from Cabra and the north inner city, were arrested along with two men from the English midlands.
Last night they were being held for questioning at Pearse Street Garda station under the Drug Trafficking Act.
The four, aged 23, 25, 44 and 47, can be detained without charge for up to seven days.
Gardai believe the drugs shipment had been recently smuggled into the country and was being moved across the city to be prepared for distribution to a network of street dealers.
The seizure was described by officers last night as "very significant" as it represented a major financial and operational blow to a trafficking gang, which had been at the centre of a lengthy investigation by the garda unit.
Yesterday's seizure, which was led by the recently appointed head of the unit, Det Chief Supt Tony Quilter, was the result of a detailed intelligence gathering operation involving a number of national squads.
Detectives are satisfied that all of the shipment was destined for distribution.
The two Dublin-based suspects were already known to gardai and last night further inquiries were being carried out across the channel into the background of the English men.
Surprise
Gardai said the cocaine consignment had not been concealed in the car and the occupants had been taken totally by surprise.
Further searches were carried out throughout the day. Initial examination of the cocaine suggested it had a high purity, which would push up its street value, after it had been mixed and watered down before distribution, to well over €2m.
This was the latest in a series of substantial drug seizures so far this year and last night gardai were particularly pleased that they had struck a blow against the north city gang, which had been the focus of their attention for months.
Gardai have been working closely with officers from several English police forces in an effort to break the links between Irish trafficking gangs and their network of suppliers in Britain.
Similar exchanges have been taking place with police in Spain and the Netherlands, where the Irish gangs are also known to have bases.
- Tom Brady Security Editor
