Irish gang behind €50m cocaine seizure

An Irish-based drugs gang was behind the shipment of €50.5m of cocaine concealed in banana boat which was seized at a port in southern England.

Senior Garda sources say the gang intended to distribute some of the cocaine here and supply the rest throughout Britain and Europe for the Christmas market.

The seizure comes less than three months after the Naval Service intercepted the motorised yacht Makayabella 300 miles off the south-west coast of Ireland. She was carrying cocaine worth €82m.