Irishman arrested over €30m cannabis haul

AN Irishman has been accused of attempting to smuggle cannabis worth tens of millions of euro hidden in a tanker full of sand which was stopped on the French border.

The man, aged about 50, and believed to be from Westmeath, is alleged to have driven the four tonnes of cannabis from Alicante in Spain, a favourite haunt of Irish fugitives. While French police valued the load at €6.5 million, the value on Irish streets would be closer to €30m.

The man is in custody in Marseilles, where he is expected to appear in court within the next couple of weeks. He has not been named by French authorities.