Ireland Case No. 6198Drug trafficking (cocaine) · Co. Donegal
Gardaí seize devices in Dundalk searches over Donegal cocaine packages
In July 2023, about 60kg of cocaine with an estimated street value over €4 million washed up at Ballyhiernan Beach in Fanad and at Tramore in Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal, after gardaí were first alerted to a package on 19 July 2023 at 8.30am. Gardaí suspect the packages were dumped overboard from a larger vessel for a smuggling gang to collect at sea, and that bad weather prevented retrieval. On 28 March 2024, Donegal gardaí, assisted by Louth gardaí, searched several locations in Dundalk, Co Louth, and seized laptops, phones and documents believed to contain details of the operation. No arrests have been made and no charges have been reported.
- Reported28 Mar
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Packages of cocaine weighing about 60kg, with an estimated street value over €4 million, were found on Donegal beaches in July 2023.
- Where
- The packages washed up at Ballyhiernan Beach in Fanad and at Tramore in Dunfanaghy, and a second similar package was reported at Tramore Beach about half an hour later.
- When
- Gardaí were first alerted to a package at Ballyhiernan Beach on 19 July 2023 at 8.30am.
- Cause
- Gardaí suspect the packages were dumped overboard from a larger vessel for a smuggling gang to pick up at sea.
- Bad weather likely prevented the criminals from retrieving the drugs, so the packages washed ashore.
- Investigation
- Gardaí linked a suspicious boat registered in Northern Ireland to suspected smugglers living in Co Louth, and investigations into the boat's purchase led to the searches.
- Donegal gardaí, assisted by Louth gardaí, searched a number of locations in Dundalk, Co Louth, on Thursday 28 March 2024.
- Laptops, phones, documents and other electronic devices of potential evidential value were seized, which gardaí believe contain details of the smuggling operation.
- A large search operation involving the Garda Air and Water Units and Revenue was launched to find other consignments, and gardaí liaised with Cork gardaí about drugs on the south coast.
- Gardaí are investigating whether the discovery is linked to a boat purchased in Co Louth.
- Reports differ on the link: one says the boat was purchased in the Dundalk area, while the other says it was registered in Northern Ireland and linked to suspected smugglers living in Co Louth.
- Other details
- A boat was impounded at Magheraroarty in Donegal and the pier was sealed off to the public.
- The boat was understood to have been sold by its previous owner in recent weeks.
- No arrests have been made.
23 statements extracted from the articles
- whatOver €4 million worth of cocaine was found on Donegal beaches in 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe packages weighed 60kg. (irishtimes.com)
- whatPackages of cocaine weighing about 60kg, with an estimated street value over €4 million, were found along the north Donegal coastline. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe packages washed up at Ballyhiernan Beach in Fanad and at Tramore in Dunfanaghy. (irishtimes.com)
- whereA second similar package was reported at Tramore Beach around half an hour later. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe packages washed up in July 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whenGardaí were first alerted to a package at Ballyhiernan Beach in Fanad, Co Donegal, on 19 July 2023 at 8.30am. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeGardaí suspect the packages were dumped overboard from a larger vessel for a smuggling gang to pick up at sea. (irishtimes.com)
- causeBad weather likely prevented the criminals from retrieving the drugs. (irishtimes.com)
- causeIt is suspected the drugs were due to be picked up at sea by a drug smuggling gang and dumped into the water for them. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationSearches were carried out in Dundalk, Co Louth, on a Thursday morning. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí seized laptops and phones which they believe contain details of the smuggling operation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí linked a suspicious boat registered in Northern Ireland to suspected smugglers living in Co Louth. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationInvestigations into the purchase of the boat led to the Dundalk searches. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationElectronic devices and documents of potential evidential value were seized. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA large search operation involving the Garda Air and Water Units and Revenue was launched to find other consignments. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí liaised with Cork gardaí to check whether drugs on the south coast came from the same consignment. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí are investigating whether the discovery is linked to a boat purchased in Co Louth. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDonegal gardaí, assisted by Louth gardaí, carried out searches at a number of locations in Dundalk. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationNo arrests have been made. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA boat was impounded at Magheraroarty in Donegal and the pier was sealed off to the public. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe boat was understood to have been sold by its previous owner in recent weeks. (irishtimes.com)
- otherNo arrests were made. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 28 Mar2024€4m cocaine haul found in Donegal 'traced back to boat purchased in Dundalk'
Reports a Garda investigation into cocaine packages found on the Donegal coast in July 2023, with searches in Dundalk and no arrests. No earlier case in the list matches this incident.
- 28 Mar2024Suspicious boat near Donegal cocaine find led gardaí to searches in Dundalk
Reports searches in Dundalk on Thursday 28 March 2024 and the seizure of electronic devices and documents, linked to a boat registered in Northern Ireland. Adds details of the July 2023 beach finds and the boat impounded at Magheraroarty.
suspect