A special EU agency headed up by a former senior Garda has coordinated the seizure of more than five tonnes of cocaine off the coast of Portugal
The seizure – worth at least €360 million – was made by the Portuguese Navy in the Atlantic Ocean around 550 kilometres off the country’s coast at the weekend.
But the operation – codenamed White Tide – was overseen by the Lisbon-based MAOC-N, led by former Garda Commissioner Michael O’Sullivan.
It’s understood the latest haul was to be divided among gangs when it made land in Europe – and would have been sent to several different countries for sale.
Sources said it was likely at least some of the cocaine on the boat would have been sent to Ireland for sale.
Mr O’Sullivan was a senior anti-drugs officer in the Garda, before retiring and taking the helm of MAOC-N, which coordinates the EU’s anti-drugs smuggling operations.
His agency gathers intelligence on large scale cocaine shipments to Europe from south America – and seized more than €1.4 billion of the drug in 2020 alone.
In the latest operation overseen by Mr O’Sullivan, the Portuguese navy boarded a yacht in the Atlantic - and seized a massive 183 bales, packed with 5.2 tonnes of cocaine.
It is the biggest seizure ever made on a yacht – with such huge consignments usually found on cargo ships.
"We are always expecting (more drug trafficking) and this is the message we want to send organisations: we are waiting for you," top Portuguese cop Luis Neves said.
"Those who have to fall will fall because this amount of drugs is an immense fortune and a huge blow for criminal groups."
The crew members - two Spanish nationals and one Peruvian - were arrested and will appear before a judge. Police suspect they are part of a powerful drug ring known for transporting drugs from Latin America to Europe.
Antonio Duarte, head of Spain's police narcotics unit which was also involved in the operation, said the men had already been on authorities' radar and an arrest warrant had been issued for one of them.
Earlier this year, Mr O’Sullivan warned that Ireland and Europe was facing an unprecedented cocaine explosion.
“We are facing a tsunami of cocaine,” he said.
“There is a huge market for it in Europe.
“Last year, MAOC-N seized some 22 tonnes of cocaine. In the first three months of 2021, we have already seized 19 tonnes.”
“All the cocaine that is used in Ireland comes from South America,” he added.
“And whenever we intercept a large consignment, it is all being sent to Europe.
“And an amount of that would be destined for Ireland."
His warning came before this latest seizure, which means MAOC-N has intercepted at least 24.2 tonnes in 2021, which is worth around €1.7 billion.
