Irish ports 'may be targeted' by cocaine cartels

Fears have been expressed that Irish ports such as Ringaskiddy in Cork could be targeted by South American cocaine cartels trying to avoid tighter scrutiny at major EU ports. Picture: Larry Cummins

Fears have been expressed that Irish ports could be increasingly targeted by South American cocaine cartels as they try to avoid tighter scrutiny at major EU ports.

The EU drugs agency warned that as a result of “scaled up” law enforcement in key ports in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain, there was evidence that international gangs were “increasingly targeting smaller ports” in other EU countries.