$ 41 million worth of cocaine disguised as charcoal seized by police

Cocaine disguised as charcoal with a potential market value of up to 35 million euros ($ 41.4 million) was seized in a joint operation between the Irish and Dutch authorities.

The drugs were found inside two sea containers from South America that arrived at the port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in what Irish investigators believe was an attempt to import up to a half – ton of cocaine in Ireland, according to a press release. from Garda Síochána, the Irish National Police and Security Service, released Wednesday.

Inside the containers were 2,000 bags of charcoal. Through the use of an x-ray scanner and police sniffer dogs, some of the bags contained cocaine.

Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) later confirmed that the cocaine was present, but “it will take several days and possibly longer for the FSI to extract the cocaine from the product in which it is concealed,” the statement read. hurry.

If the full shipment of cocaine were discovered, it could have a market value of up to 35 million euros ($ 41.5 million), police said.

The containers would have arrived at the port of Rotterdam several weeks ago.

Arrests are expected in the near future as part of an ongoing investigation by the Garda National Bureau of Drugs and Organized Crime, according to the press release.

“This is an important development in Garda Síochána’s efforts to disrupt and dismantle organized criminal groups suspected of being involved in importing cocaine and other drugs into Ireland,” Deputy Commissioner said John O’Driscoll of the Garda Síochána.

O’Driscoll underlined the “significant international dimension” of the operation and “the importance of cooperation within the law enforcement community in Europe and beyond”.

Michael O’Sullivan, head of the Maritime Analysis and Operations Center, which coordinates anti-drug operations by seven European Union countries, including Ireland, said the seizure was “a massive seizure “which” will deal a heavy blow to the organized crime group. involved.”

O’Sullivan told Irish television station RTÉ that Irish criminal groups play a leading role in importing cocaine into Europe, where the drug market is estimated at € 14 billion (16.6 billions of dollars).

Spain’s National Police made a similar seizure of 862 kilograms (1,900 pounds) of cocaine disguised as charcoal a few weeks ago. The force said last month that a “complex chemical process” had been used to give the drugs “a very similar shape and color” to charcoal and “to remove the characteristic smell of cocaine.”