News (Media Awareness Project) - Ireland: Drugs Ring Smashed After 1 Million [Pounds] Ecstasy Haul |
| Title: | Ireland: Drugs Ring Smashed After 1 Million [Pounds] Ecstasy Haul |
| Published On: | 1998-02-28 |
| Source: | The Examiner (Ireland) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-07 14:43:18 |
DRUGS RING SMASHED AFTER £1 MILLION ECSTASY HAUL
Gardai believe they have smashed a major drugs ring with the discovery of
50,000 ecstasy tablets in a wood on the edge of Cork city yesterday.
The biggest ever haul of the drug, which is worth up to £1 million on the
streets, is the latest in a series of blows to the illegal drugs industry
in Munster by the Cork Drug Squad.
Three men, all from Cork and well known to gardai, were discovered trying
to move the drugs from a wooded area at Kilumney, Aherla at lunch time
yesterday.
The three were in Garda custody last night in Bandon, Co Cork, where they
were being questioned.
Gardai, led by Detective Supt Tim O'Callaghan and Supt Mick O'Loughlin,
following weeks of surveillance, arrested the three as they dug up the
drugs carefully wrapped in plastic.
They were planning to move them onto the market where they would be
available in towns throughout Munster for between £10 and £15 a tablet over
the next few days.
"Our surveillance operation has been ongoing for a number of weeks. They
were in the act of transporting the drugs when the officers moved in.
"We believe the drugs were mainly destined for Cork City but were also to
be distributed across the greater Munster area," said a Garda spokesperson
last night.
Gardai continued to search the wood with specially-trained sniffer dogs
last night and say they are confident of making other seizures.
The area has been sealed off and is being guarded around the clock.
"These men are all known to us. We're confident we've smashed a major drugs
ring. We've also saved a lot of lives and saved a lot of misery for a lot
of young people," the spokesman said. "We've been watching these woods for
a number of weeks now and are confident we'll make further discoveries over
the weekend."
The haul was taken to Anglesea Street Garda Station yesterday and is to be
examined by experts in Dublin over the weekend.
Gardai do not yet know the origin of the drugs but are hopeful scientific
analysis of the haul will yield further clues.
The trio, all of whom are in their 20s and from Cork, were arrested under
Section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act.
They can be held for up to seven days. Some of the men may appea in court
over the weekend.
Gardai believe they have smashed a major drugs ring with the discovery of
50,000 ecstasy tablets in a wood on the edge of Cork city yesterday.
The biggest ever haul of the drug, which is worth up to £1 million on the
streets, is the latest in a series of blows to the illegal drugs industry
in Munster by the Cork Drug Squad.
Three men, all from Cork and well known to gardai, were discovered trying
to move the drugs from a wooded area at Kilumney, Aherla at lunch time
yesterday.
The three were in Garda custody last night in Bandon, Co Cork, where they
were being questioned.
Gardai, led by Detective Supt Tim O'Callaghan and Supt Mick O'Loughlin,
following weeks of surveillance, arrested the three as they dug up the
drugs carefully wrapped in plastic.
They were planning to move them onto the market where they would be
available in towns throughout Munster for between £10 and £15 a tablet over
the next few days.
"Our surveillance operation has been ongoing for a number of weeks. They
were in the act of transporting the drugs when the officers moved in.
"We believe the drugs were mainly destined for Cork City but were also to
be distributed across the greater Munster area," said a Garda spokesperson
last night.
Gardai continued to search the wood with specially-trained sniffer dogs
last night and say they are confident of making other seizures.
The area has been sealed off and is being guarded around the clock.
"These men are all known to us. We're confident we've smashed a major drugs
ring. We've also saved a lot of lives and saved a lot of misery for a lot
of young people," the spokesman said. "We've been watching these woods for
a number of weeks now and are confident we'll make further discoveries over
the weekend."
The haul was taken to Anglesea Street Garda Station yesterday and is to be
examined by experts in Dublin over the weekend.
Gardai do not yet know the origin of the drugs but are hopeful scientific
analysis of the haul will yield further clues.
The trio, all of whom are in their 20s and from Cork, were arrested under
Section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act.
They can be held for up to seven days. Some of the men may appea in court
over the weekend.
Member Comments |
No member comments available...
