Cocaine en route to Europe from Caribbean

THE cocaine found yesterday off the west Cork coast after the sinking of a rib is believed to have come from the Caribbean on its way to the lucrative European market.

It is understood that the drugs, which may have been worth up to €200 million, were transferred offshore from a yacht to the Rigid Inflatable Boat (rib) sometime on Sunday night, before the rib made its way towards the coast.

However, difficult conditions, including winds up to force five, caused the rib to overturn in the water, sending 55 bales of cocaine into the sea, to be found yesterday by search teams.