Men held after €200,000 of drugs found in airport luggage

TWO South African men were being questioned by gardaí last night after a Department of Agriculture official found €200,000 worth of cannabis resin concealed in their luggage when they arrived at Cork Airport.

The official was carrying out routine inspections on luggage belonging to non-EU nationals when he discovered the consignment and notified gardaí. He had been searching for meat which might be contaminated with Foot and Mouth.

Drugs Squad detectives believe South African based drugs barons have decided to smuggle drugs through smaller Irish airports because of the recent rise in seizures at Dublin Airport, many of which have led to the arrest of South African couriers.