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Fears crime gang ‘sank 2 tonnes of coke with GPS device’ as dramatic moment 10 suspects arrested revealed
Gardai suspect nine of the suspects arrived in Ireland earlier this week
AN international crime gang may have dumped up to two tonnes of drugs at sea with a GPS tracking device, gardai fear.
This comes as Gardai were tonight granted orders extending the detention of the ten men arrested on Thursday.
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Images show suspected members of the crew lying on the ground in handcuffs next to a large campervan after a major drugs importation investigation was launched in west on Thursday morning.
The suspects, who included professional divers, were among ten people arrested in the crackdown with some of them hailing from , , and .
A number of vehicles, including the camper van, an articulated lorry and a 4X4, were also seized.
One of the arrested men from Holland is known to have links to drug gangs in Europe.
Gardai suspect nine of the suspects arrived in earlier this week as part of a plot to import at least two tonnes of cocaine from South America.
All ten of the men, who range in age from mid-20s to mid-50s, were brought before a special district court sitting in Bandon, west Cork.
The orders extending the men’s detention were granted by Judge James McNulty tonight.
Chief Superintendent Vincent O’Sullivan gave evidence to the court that he believed the extensions were warranted, given the complexity of the garda investigation under way.
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The Irish Sun has learned that the men were still soaking wet, seemingly having been forced back by bad weather after launching their rigid inflatable.
The RIB, boasting three high-powered engines, was intended to get them back to the ship they brought the drugs in on, it’s believed.
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It was then found in the gang’s articulated truck, which a woman saw while out walking her dog at isolated Tragumna beach in west Cork.
The sight of an articulated truck in that area would have been unusual. However the gardai already had the situation under surveillance and were ready to move in when the time was right.
The investigation is being led by detectives from the west Cork Division and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
One senior source said: “There is no doubt that there was a criminal enterprise linked to drug importation taking place in west Cork. Why else would these individuals arrive in Ireland and go to a remote area of the country in the early hours of the morning?
'Drug-smuggling operation'
“The suspicion is that they were here to provide logistical support to a major transnational drugs-smuggling operation.”
Gardai are also probing if a multi-million cocaine shipment was dumped at sea and fitted with GPS tracking devices.
It’s just one line of inquiry being followed by investigators after they arrested the ten men on Thursday morning.
Gardai also believe the suspects from the RIB may have met with a mother ship off the west Cork coast and received the cocaine. But rather than take the shipment, it may have been thrown overboard and fitted with GPS devices so it could be recovered later.
They are also probing if the operation was abandoned due to the weather.
Permutations being probed
Investigators are also examining phones and other devices seized from the men to establish their recent movements At present, the mother ship has not been identified.
The source added: “There are all sorts of permutations in this investigation.
“It’s possible the consignment had been dumped at sea so it could be recovered at a later date. But it’s also possible the mother ship was spooked and the mission aborted due to adverse weather.”
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The suspects are being questioned on suspicion of attempting to enhance the capabilities of an organised crime gang. So far the drugs haven’t been recovered.
Gardai are liaising with Interpol, Europol and other law enforcement agencies.
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