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.