Drugs in Eire warning
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by Miles Brignall • Hauliers operating out of Ireland are warned to be on their guard against suspicious jobs or loads after it emerged Eire is now being used by drugs gangs as the new gateway to Britain.
The warning follows Ireland's largest ever seizure of cannabis last week-15 tonnes with a street value of £153m— found in a container trailer in Lirlingford, Co Kilkenny, Eire.
Gardai and customs officials claim Ireland's largely unpatrolled 2,000-mile coastline, combined with large cross-border levels of trade, are making the country a favourite entry point to the UK for drugs importers.
Customs in Ireland has already signed co-operation agreements with a number of hauliers. Companies including TNT and other parcels delivery firms have been the first to sign up for advice on preventing them from being unwittingly used by smugglers.
"Special attention should be given to jobs asking for peculiar routes to be taken, and where large amounts of cash appear," says a spokesman.
The latest haul takes the value of drugs seized by customs in Ireland over the last three years to more than £200m. Police point to the increasing quantities of drugs being imported and are warning operators to be aware of the threat, Contact Irish customs on 00 35 51 679 277.