Gardai have seized what they believe to be a staggering €35 million worth of suspected cocaine disguised as bags of charcoal.
Customs officers, gardai and the Irish Navy all assisted in the huge sting which saw gardai seize two containers as part of an investigation alongside Netherlands police.
The containers arrived in Rotterdam port a number of weeks ago and were subsequently brought to Dublin Port under armed escort.
After opening the containers officers found up to 2,000 bags of charcoal.
But using sniffer dogs and an X-ray scanner, Gardai soon discovered a number of anomalies in the bags which officers believe indicates the presence of cocaine.
The massive seizure was part of an attempt made by organised crime gangs to import up to half a tonne of cocaine into Ireland.
A Garda spokesman said: "The services of Forensic Science Ireland have been utilised to confirm the presence of cocaine in those bags identified through the scanning process as indicating anomalies with regard to their content.
"Initial examination undertaken by the FSI would tend to confirm the suspicion held by the Garda Síochána that the two shipping containers may have been used in an attempt to transport up to half of a tonne of cocaine into Ireland.
"In the event that the full consignment of cocaine has been discovered, it has a potential street sale value of up to €35 million.
"However, it will take a number of days and perhaps longer for FSI to extract the cocaine from the product within which it is concealed."
"The investigation being undertaken by the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau continues to progress. It is anticipated a number of suspects will be arrested in the near future."
Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll, who is assigned to Organised and Serious Crime within the Garda Síochána said of the incredible haul: "This is a significant development in the Garda Síochána’s effort to disrupt and dismantle organised crime groups suspected to be involved in the importation of cocaine and other drugs into Ireland.
"This operation, in which the Garda Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau is taking a lead role, has a significant international dimension and again emphasises the importance of cooperation within the law enforcement community within Europe and further afield”.
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