Five men arrested in connection with €21m Limerick cocaine seizure

300kgs drugs were found aboard a Maltese-registered ship which arrived in Foynes earlier this week

The ship remains detained in the Limerick port under Customs legislation and a search of the vessel is currently ongoing. Picture: Picture Brendna Gleeson

Five men have been arrested in relation to the seizure of more than €21m worth of cocaine from a cargo ship which docked in Limerick earlier this week. 

As part of a major security operation, Revenue officials boarded the 20,000-tonne cargo bulk carrier after it docked in Foynes on Tuesday.

The Maltese-registered vessel, named the Verila, had arrived from Canada and was expected to be carrying grain.

On board, 300kgs worth of cocaine with an estimated street value of €21m were uncovered.

Thee seized drugs were reportedly concealed within a bale with a buoyancy aid with an attached GPS locator.

The seized drugs have since been sent for analysis.

On Friday, a garda spokesperson confirmed the Irish Examiner that five man, aged 50, 46, 44, 41 and 35, were arrested for the offence of importation of controlled drugs contrary to Section 15(b) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977/84 as amended by Section 82 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. 

The men are all detained at Garda stations in the Limerick Division.

The ship remains detained in the Limerick port under Customs legislation and a search of the vessel is currently ongoing, the spokesperson said.