Ireland €3.85 million cocaine seized at Ringaskiddy Port, Cork
On Friday 14 April 2023, Revenue officers, with gardaí according to some reports, seized about 55kg of suspected cocaine at Ringaskiddy Port, Co Cork. The estimated value was given as €3.85m, though some reports said nearly €4 million. The drugs were concealed in the refrigeration unit of a maritime container that the garda release says originated in Ecuador. No suspect has been named, no arrest or charge has been reported, and investigations are ongoing as of the day of the seizure.
- Reported14 Apr
5 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Revenue officers, with gardaí according to RTE, seized about 55kg of suspected cocaine.
- The garda release gives the estimated value as €3.85m, while RTE and Extra.ie describe it as nearly €4 million.
- Where
- The seizure took place at Ringaskiddy Port, Co Cork, where a container ship had docked at the Port of Cork.
- When
- The seizure was made on Friday 14 April 2023, earlier that afternoon, and announced the same day.
- Cause
- The cocaine was hidden in the refrigeration unit of a maritime container.
- Other details
- The garda release says the container originated in Ecuador, and the Irish Mirror says it was understood to have been shipped from Ecuador in South America.
- Corkbeo said the ship was inbound from central America, which differs from the Ecuador origin given in the garda release.
- Investigation
- The drugs were located with help from Revenue's Maritime Unit, an X-ray scanner and detector dog Merlin.
- The seizure was a joint operation by Revenue's Customs Service and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau as part of an intelligence-led operation.
- A garda spokesperson said investigations are ongoing, and no arrests, charges or suspects have been reported.
30 statements extracted from the articles
- whatNearly €4 million worth of cocaine was seized by gardaí and customs officers in Co Cork. (rte.ie)
- whatOver 55kg of the drug, worth more than €3.85m, was seized at Ringaskiddy Port earlier that afternoon. (rte.ie)
- whatRevenue officers seized 55kg of suspected cocaine. (garda.ie)
- whatThe cocaine had an estimated value of €3.85m. (garda.ie)
- whatRevenue officers seized 55kg of suspected cocaine worth an estimated €3.85m. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe drugs were concealed in the refrigeration unit of a maritime container that originated in Ecuador. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatCocaine worth €4 million was seized. (extra.ie)
- whatRevenue officers seized 55kg of suspected cocaine worth an estimated €3.85 million. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe drugs were concealed in the refrigeration unit of a maritime container. (rte.ie, garda.ie)
- whereThe drugs were seized at Ringaskiddy Port, Co. Cork. (garda.ie)
- whereThe seizure took place at Ringaskiddy Port in Co. Cork, on a container ship that had docked in Port of Cork. (corkbeo.ie)
- whereThe cocaine was seized at Ringaskiddy Port, Co. Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe cocaine was hidden inside a refrigeration unit on a container arriving at Ringaskiddy Port. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe article was updated on Friday 14 April 2023. (rte.ie)
- whenThe seizure took place on Friday 14 April 2023. (garda.ie)
- whenThe seizure was announced on 14 April 2023. (corkbeo.ie)
- whenThe seizure was made on Friday 14 April 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe drugs were located with the assistance of Revenue's Maritime Unit, an X-Ray scanner and detector dog Merlin. (rte.ie)
- investigationFurther investigations into the seizure are continuing. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe seizure was part of an intelligence-led operation. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe drugs were found with help from Revenue's Maritime Unit, a drug detector dog and a mobile X-ray scanner. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe seizure was a joint operation by Revenue's Customs Service and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB). (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe seizure was made in a joint operation by Revenue's Customs Service and the GNDOCB. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationRevenue used a detector dog, Merlin, and a mobile X-ray scanner to find the drugs. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe seizure was a joint operation by Revenue's Customs Service and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA garda spokesperson said the investigations are ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe container originated from Ecuador. (rte.ie)
- otherThe container originated in Ecuador. (garda.ie)
- otherThe container was understood to have been shipped from Ecuador. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 14 Apr2023Dog and X-ray scanner lead to €3.85 million cocaine seizure in Cork port
Reports the seizure, the concealment in a refrigerator unit, the reported Ecuador origin of the container, and that investigations are ongoing. No arrests, charges or suspects are reported.
- 14 Apr2023€4million worth of cocaine seized in Cork port
Only the headline is available. The article text contains only page template code, so no date, suspects or investigation details can be recorded.
- 14 Apr2023Massive €3.85m cocaine seizure in Port of Cork
First report of this seizure. No suspect, arrest or charge is mentioned.
- 14 Apr2023€3.85 Million Cocaine Seizure - GNDOCB and Revenue Customs Service Joint Operation - Ringaskiddy Port, Co. Cork - 14th April 2023
Official Garda press release adding that the container originated in Ecuador, the drugs were concealed in a refrigeration unit, the seizure was a joint Revenue and GNDOCB operation, and investigations are ongoing. It gives the value as €3.85m and names no arrests.
- 14 Apr2023Cocaine worth €3.85 million seized in Co Cork
Adds that the container originated in Ecuador, that Revenue's Maritime Unit, an X-ray scanner and detector dog Merlin helped locate the drugs, and that the drugs were concealed in a refrigeration unit.