One of the largest drugs hauls in the history of the State - in monetary value as well as physical size - was put on display by the Garda in Dublin last night.
The consignment of 4.6 tonnes of herbal cannabis was intercepted in a joint Garda and Customs operation in Portarlington, Co Laois, late on Friday night. Four men were detained in connection with the seizure. It was not until last night that garda∅ were able to quantify and value the cannabis, which they say is worth about £9 million (€11.43 million).
The Garda revealed the drugs had been hidden inside a consignment of doors, which were stacked flat with the interiors missing.
According to Detective Superintendent Barry O'Brien of the Garda National Drugs Unit, the haul is "many times" larger than anything intercepted in recent years.
The drugs, tightly wrapped in brown or clear plastic packaging, came to Ireland from Durban, South Africa, via Antwerp in Belgium and through Dublin Port.
The joint Garda/Customs operation was handled by Detective Superintendent Noel White for the Garda and Mr Brian Smith for the Customs. The garda∅ and Customs officers stressed, however, that the investigation was continuing and were reluctant to provide further information, although Detective Superintendent O'Brien confirmed that there had been a number of seizures of drugs which originated from South Africa in recent months.
Both garda∅ and Customs officers declined to say how long the operation had been going on, or whether international surveillance was involved.
The four men arrested in connection with the incident are believed to be from Dublin, Cork and Tullamore, Co Offaly.
They were detained under Section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act and may be kept in custody for up to seven days before being charged.
