Kinahan cartel believed to be behind mobile drug lab seized under major international policing operation 

An Garda Síochána has participated in a major international law enforcement operation targeting five priority criminal markets - drug trafficking, human trafficking, document fraud, firearms trafficking and environmental crime.

The Kinahan crime cartel is believed to be behind a mobile drug laboratory seized in Co Kildare under a global operation targeting top international gangs.

The cartel — which has restructured in Spain around a new operational figure — was trafficking in cocaine impregnated into wood shipped over by Colombian suppliers.

The Colombian cartel trained Irish criminals in breaking down the wood and extracting the cocaine using chemicals.

Gardaí and Revenue unearthed 75kgs of cocaine at the makeshift lab, inside a truck trailer, along with chemicals and a further 32kgs of cannabis herb.

It comes as gardaí participated in a major international law enforcement operation targeting five priority criminal markets — drug trafficking, human trafficking, document fraud, firearms trafficking and environmental crime.

Operation Atlas Nexus resulted in the dismantling of dozens of criminal networks and more than 490 arrests across 34 participating countries.

The operation was co-ordinated by the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, (FRONTEX) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS).

Countries from across Europe, the Caribbean, South and Central America, North America and other regions took part, with organisations including Europol, Ameripol, and Interpol involved. 

The international operation resulted in seizures exceeding 156.9 tonnes of drugs, along with 201 weapons and 3,131 units of ammunition and explosives.

Other seizures included 803 wild animals and livestock, 0.83 kg of gold, 169 properties, 464 pieces of jewellery, and 468 fraudulent documents. 

A total of 18 victims were rescued as a number of criminal networks were dismantled.

Operational actions in Ireland

As part of Operation Atlas Nexus, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and Revenue Customs conducted a number of operational actions including an operation targeting the activity of a criminal organisation suspected to be involved in the importation of cocaine that was believed to be camouflaged within consignments of wood being shipped from Colombia. 

This criminal organisation was also involved in the distribution of cannabis, a garda spokesperson said.

This operation culminated in a search operation on June 23. 

The garda spokesperson said a mobile laboratory was discovered in a truck trailer along with equipment and chemicals used in the extraction process for cocaine. 

In total, 74kg of cocaine with an approximate value of €5,180,000 was identified camouflaged in wooden sheets imported from South America and 32kg of cannabis was also recovered.

Three males were arrested at the time and are currently charged and before the courts.

Also as part of Operation Atlas Nexus, a joint intelligence led operation conducted at Dublin Port on Thursday, July 9 by Revenue Customs officers supported by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau took place.

Containers arriving from South America were subjected to search and this resulted in the seizure of approximately 24kg of cocaine with an estimated value of €1.6m. 

The illicit drugs were discovered with the assistance of detector dog Gerry and Revenue’s mobile x-ray scanning unit.

Gardaí say investigations are ongoing.