Limerick garda tells of cocaine process

The purity of a kilo of cocaine being smuggled into Ireland is reduced by up to five times before it is sold on the streets here, a trial has heard.

A senior member of the Limerick Drugs Squad made the revelation, during the trial of a 30-year-old man charged with possession of cocaine at a house outside the city last year.

Seán Smith, Loughmore Mungret, Co Limerick, and also with an address in Swinford Gardens, Brixton, London, is facing three charges of possession of cocaine, with a street value exceeding €13,000, for the purpose of unlawful sale and supply at Loughmore, Mungret, Co Limerick, on June 3 2003.

The 30-year-old is also charged with possession of an explosive device, possession of a Sterling sub-machine gun for an unlawful purpose, and possession of an explosive substance, namely cortex detonating chord, at Loughmore, Mungret on June 3rd 2003.

Mr Smith denies all of the charges.

Yesterday, Limerick Circuit Court heard from Detective Garda Sergeant Heelan from the Drugs Squad in Henry Street Garda Station that the drugs found during the raid at the house in Loughmore, Mungret, had a street value of €35,280.

Det Sgt Heelan said a ‘Press’ – capable of converting cocaine from powder form into solid bars - was also found during the raid.

The ‘Press’ – which has a legitimate purpose for pressing holes into metal - could also be used to convert cocaine of high purity into rectangular bars with a lower purity, the court heard.

“I am aware that cocaine is sold in bars referred to on the streets as ‘nine bars’ and on past experience I am aware that they are produced by means of placing powder into a rectangular or square object and pressing it out,” said Det Sgt Heelan.

“When it is compressed the first time it is somewhat moist because it is mixed with another agent to bulk up the quantity,” he added.

According to Det Sgt Heelan, a kilo of cocaine coming into this country would be bulked up as many as five times before it is sold on the streets.

The trial, which started last Tuesday, continues today before Judge Carroll Moran, who is due to charge the jury this morning before sending them out to deliberate on their verdict.