Ireland is increasingly a magnet for cocaine trafficking with a number of “colossal seizures” in recent months, a security expert has warned. 

Last week, eight men from a transnational gang from the MV Matthew were jailed for their role in trying to smuggle 2.2 tons of cocaine, worth €157 million, into Ireland in 2023.

While it was the largest cocaine seizure in the history of the State, it was far from the only significant haul in recent months. 

The MV Matthew. Picture by: Irish Air Corps.

Cocaine smuggling

On Newstalk Daily, Irish Examiner security correspondent Cormac O’Keeffe explained that Ireland’s position on the western edge of Europe makes it a “very attractive” location for smugglers.  

“There are three or four main trafficking routes from South America and the Caribbean,” he said. 

“One is the northern route, which passes by us; that route encompasses Ireland, Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands. 

“Antwerp and Rotterdam by far dominate the massive seizures of cocaine in Europe. 

“We have many ports and even more beaches where large consignments of cocaine can land.” 

A Garda drugs seizure. Image: An Garda Síochána

Due to Ireland’s proximity to Britain and its membership of the Common Travel Area, the Republic has now become a “major supplier of cocaine” to British drug users. 

“They are brought across the border to the ferry, over to Scotland,” Mr  O’Keeffe continued. 

“The Scottish gangs are major players in cocaine trafficking and they supply the British market. 

“Some of it might go on to Europe, some might stay in Ireland.

“The bulk of the cocaine seizures and the bulk of the cocaine traffic coming into Ireland, is going into the UK market.” 

Mr O’Keeffe added there is no main hub where smuggling taking place, with gangs targeting ports right across the country. 

“Rosslare Port would be… a key destination for cocaine,” he said. 

“All the way across to Foynes in County Limerick, which had a 300kg haul at the end of 2023. 

“British gangs are very active here; they would sometimes link up with Irish gangs who might specialise in taking the drugs in and bringing them across to the North.”

A Garda drugs seizure. Image: An Garda Síochána.

He continued that there are an “increasing number” of large gangs with the ability to bring in significant quantities of drugs. 

“The MV Matthew was the record haul by far,” he said. 

“2.25 tons of cocaine; that was approaching twice the largest haul that we would have had previously. 

“Last week, we had about 440kg down by Courtmacsherry in Cork.

“There was 152kg was seized in Waterford that came in through Rosslare Port; not long before that, there was 182kg in County Laois. 

“Five years ago, these would be colossal seizures of cocaine.” 

Anyone struggling with drug addiction can contact the HSE’s freephone helpline on 1800 459 459 from Monday to Friday between 9:30 am and 5:30 pm.

Main image: A man using cocaine. Picture by: Alamy.com.