Irish brothers held as police probe drugs plot

TWO brothers from Ireland are being quizzed by French police investigating a plot to smuggle millions of euro worth of cannabis and cocaine over the border from Spain.

The men were arrested last week and are being held in the southern French town of Perpignan.

They are suspected of being involved in a plot to smuggle drugs with a street value of €11m three-quarters of a ton of cannabis worth €10m and 15 kilograms of cocaine, valued at over €1m.

An official at the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed embassy staff in Paris are aware of the case and are providing consular help to the two men and their families.

But the department and the Paris embassy refused to comment further, claiming they could not speak on individual cases.

Neighbours of the two men, both in their 30s and married with children, said they were shocked to learn of the arrests.

Members of the extended family, who only recently returned holiday in Alicante in Spain, were making no comment about the arrests.

The suspects were arrested late last week in Perpignan after French police stopped a lorry after it crossed the Spanish border.

A suspect can be held for 48 hours before an investigating magistrate decides whether to extend the detention to seven days.

Depending on the seriousness of the offence, on whether there are previous convictions and on the risk of flight, a suspect can be detained until the investigation is complete, a charge is made and the trial begins.