South American cartels will 'exploit' cuts to Irish naval service, expert warns

The L.É. William Butler Yeats at the Naval Base, Haulbowline, Cork. Picture: Denis Minihane.

South American cocaine cartels “will exploit” maritime gaps caused by deepening cuts to the Irish naval service, a top expert has warned.

Michael O’Sullivan, who is the former head of MAOC-N, the EU frontline agency tasked with combating the Atlantic cocaine trade, said traffickers have their own “intelligence systems” and when they learn of cuts to naval strength among EU states they will target shipments accordingly.