Haul highlights links to drug cartels

The discovery of a huge haul of cocaine at Cork Port directly imported from Central America again raises concerns regarding the shipment of massive consignments to Ireland and through Irish waters for the local and British markets.

It also highlights the extent to which Irish and British crime groups are engaged in operations with drug cartels in South and Central America.

The 25kg haul has an estimated street value of €1.75m. But given the purity of the cocaine is likely to be very high, it would have had a final value of multiples of that once diluted.