SMUGGLERS LOOK FOR SMOOTH SAILING IN IRISH WATERS

The interception by the Customs National Drugs Team of the British
registered Posidonia and its pounds 15 million cargo of cannabis is
proof that drug smugglers regard the south west coast as a soft spot.

Last November, the Naval Services press officer based in Haulbowline
Lieutenant Commander Hugh Tully said a drug trafficker's chance of
landing undetected shipments in Ireland was over 20 times greater than
on other European coastlines.

Lt Cmdr Tully said it was almost certain that other significant
shipments of drugs and arms have been landed on the Irish coast.

Other European countries, he said, spend over four times what Ireland
spends on maritime security to cover sea areas half the size of Ireland's.

A news blackout was imposed on the interception of the Posidonia and
its pounds 15 million worth of cannabis on November 16, 1999.

However, less that 24 hours after its capture the Irish authorities
were only too delighted to let Irish media outlets access to Schull
Pier, so images could be captured for TV and print media to display
the illicit haul.

Despite the pounds 15 million value of the haul, it is not the largest
ever intercepted off the Irish coast. In September 1996, in Cork
Harbour, the local intelligence network, organised by the Customs
Service, had another far bigger success.

A suspicious vessel was reported and was found to have pounds 183
million worth of cocaine on board.

The Posidonia's pounds 15 million cargo was thought to be bound for
the British market as the common travel area between Ireland and
Britain makes the transportation of contraband from Ireland to Britain
relatively easy.

The cannabis cargo on board the 18 metre wooden hulled Posidonia was
not very well concealed and when the boarding team from the LE Ciara
boarded the boat they quickly found the cannabis.

The boat is believed to have travelled from the North African coast to
Ireland and may have been scheduled to or actually completed a
rendezvous with another vessel off loading some of its cargo. Cannabis
resin was strewn about the wheelhouse of the vessel when the boarding
party boarded.

It is thought the monitoring of the course of the Posidonia along the
West coast of Europe led to it being targeted as a potential narcotics
carrier.

The capture of the Posidonia and its illicit cargo is just one of many
successes the customs and gardai have enjoyed in Irish coastal waters
or at coastal locations over the last seven years.