‘Cocaine and not illegal fishing is the real threat’

THE State is putting disproportionate resources intoinvestigating allegations of illegal fishing rather than beefing up its fight against cocaine traffickers, it was claimed yesterday.

Castletownbere-based county councillor Noel Harrington found widespread support from colleagues when he questioned why members of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation carried out raids last week on people associated with the fishing industry in West Cork, when these resources could have been used to locate two men at large in the area. They were wanted in connection with the largest cocaine seizure in the history of the State.

The FG councillor made it clear that he had no problem with gardaí carrying out investigations into illegal fishing. However, he said the fight against drugs, which was damaging the health of the younger population, was not being adequately resourced.