African drugs gangs recruit East Europeans

WEST AFRICAN drug trafficking gangs are using Eastern European nationals to smuggle cocaine into Ireland, it has emerged.

Irish customs have recorded sharp rises in the quantity of cocaine seized in recent years and expect a further increase this year.

West African criminal networks are playing a major part in the rise and account for many of the seizures so far this year.

“The most significant trend in recent times is the emergence of West African criminal gangs,” said Michael Colgan, director of Customs Drugs Law Enforcement.

New figures show that more than 46kg of cocaine were confiscated by customs up to the end of July, compared to 63kg for the whole of 2005 and 47kg in 2004.

“We’ve seen a very big growth in cocaine and expect ... to have far more cocaine seizures this year than last year again in terms of quantity,” said Mr Colgan.

He said West African gangs — mainly from Nigeria or Ghana — had criminal networks across Europe, including Ireland.

“We have groups in Ireland and they have very well-established criminal networks around Europe, so it’s not a particular difficulty for them to recruit people. Male caucasians wouldn’t stand out as much at arrivals’ in ports or airports.

“We’ve seen Eastern Europeans, from the newer member states, recruited to carry stuff on their behalf into Ireland.”

Eastern Europeans have been caught with more than 4kg of cocaine this year, while Nigerian nationals have been arrested with more than 28kgs.

In February, 25kgs of cocaine were seized in Dublin. A Nigerian national and two Dublin men, known drug traffickers, were arrested. Gardaí believe this, and other seizures, show how Nigerian gangs have also established links with Irish gangs to import cocaine.

The Garda National Drugs Unit (GNDU) has noticed the increased prominence of West African gangs in cocaine importation. West Africans also largely control the supply of crack cocaine in Dublin.

The GNDU has also noted their use of Eastern Europeans. “West African still use West Africans, but white couriers are another way of bringing stuff in and then there’s the fact that Eastern Europeans have easier access, following accession to the EU,” said a garda source.