Ireland joins European ports network tasked with tackling drug trafficking

In February of this year, more than half a tonne of crystal methamphetamine worth more than €30m was seized in Ringaskiddy in Cork. File picture: Garda/PA Wire

Irish authorities have set up a high-level implementation group to join a European ports network tasked with tackling the booming sea trade in international drug trafficking.

The move comes as EU officials try to address growing concerns at the corruption of port officials and workers, sometimes through severe threats, and incidents, of violence and intimidation and as European seizures now exceed that of the US, traditionally the world’s largest cocaine market.

In Ireland, more than 300kg of cocaine was seized in Foynes in Co Limerick last December. 

Two months earlier, 2.25 tonnes of cocaine worth more than €150m was found onboard a bulk cargo vessel off the Cork coast. 

In February of this year, more than half a tonne of crystal methamphetamine worth more than €30m was seized in Ringaskiddy in Cork.

The EU drugs agency and the EU Home Affairs Directorate have warned that South American drug cartels are increasingly targeting “smaller ports”  — away from the major ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam — and that this could include “all ports in all countries” including Ireland.

The European Ports Alliance brings together the State and the private sector to boost intelligence gathering and cooperation between police, customs, and privately-run ports.

The alliance has a €200m budget to fund modern equipment to help customs in member states “scan containers more efficiently” as well as a range of expertise and supports.

The establishment of the EU initiative comes as figures published last week by the EU drugs agency reveal that seizures of cocaine across member states have reached record levels for six years in a row.

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction said 323 tonnes were seized in 2022, compared to 303 tonnes in 2021 and up from 80 tonnes in 1996.

More than 300kg of cocaine was seized in Foynes in Co Limerick last December. File picture: Brendna Gleeson

Many EU countries, including Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, and Ireland — all reported record hauls of cocaine in 2023.

The centre said cocaine supplies are increasingly coming through ports, in maritime shipping containers, a trend seen in Cork and Rosslare ports, and Foynes.

The European Commission told the Irish Examiner that, to date, 31 ports in 17 EU members have joined the alliance. 

There are no Irish ports on the list.

The Department of Justice said work is progressing in bringing together the relevant departments and State-owned companies to join the alliance.

“Ireland is supportive of the European Ports Alliance Public Private Partnership, which is a welcome step in the fight against organised crime,” it said.

“A co-ordination working group for the implementation of the Public Private Partnership in Ireland has been established, and is comprised of representatives from the Department of Justice, Department of Transport, and Revenue, to reflect the cross cutting nature of the initiative.” 

It said representatives from Dublin Port Company and Rosslare Europort “have been nominated as key stakeholders” in an Irish context.

The Port of Cork, also a statutory authority, is the third national port in the country.

The statement said the port representatives “will provide invaluable expertise and knowledge to the co-ordination working group, and for the successful implementation of this initiative in Ireland”.

Speaking at the launch of the European Drug Report 2024 by the monitoring centre last week, the EU’s home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson said: “The European drug market is fast moving and volatile, fuelling violence and corruption. 

"And the flow of illicit drugs into Europe is coming particularly through our ports."

Meanwhile, the deaths of two men in the midwest and Dublin last week are being investigated to see if they are linked to nitazene. 

While one is strongly suspected of being linked to the drug and the second death warrants further investigation, toxicology test results will be crucial in proving whether nitazene was involved.