CONFIRMED: Cocaine worth €21m seized from cargo ship at Foynes Port

COCAINE worth €21 million has been seized following a search operation of a cargo ship in Foynes Port.

A spokesperson for Revenue confirmed that officers boarded and searched a Maltese-registered bulk cargo vessel in in the port on the Shannon Estuary, which had arrived from Canada on Tuesday.  

“Revenue officers identified and later seized approximately 300kg of cocaine with an estimated value of €21 million,” the spokesperson confirmed. 

“Revenue officers, including specialist search teams, supported by drug detector dogs, are continuing to search the vessel as part of a live and ongoing operation,” they added. 

The ship is understood to be named the Verila and is a bulk carrier that was built in 2022, valued at roughly €37.6 million.

Marinetraffic.com, a website that tracks shipping vessels, shows that the boat came from Montreal, Canada, having left Saturday, December 9, and is currently docked in Foynes Port.

“Investigations are continuing and as this is a live operation no further comment is available at this time,” the Revenue spokesperson said. 

This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the importation of illegal drugs. 

“If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding drug smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295,” the spokesperson finished. 

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána confirmed that they attended the scene and are working closely with Revenue officers in this operation.  

“The garda investigation is being led by the Limerick Division Crime Functional Area, supported by Divisional Resources, Regional Armed Support Unit, National Units including the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) and International agencies, including MAOC(N),” the spokesperson confirmed. 

No arrests have been made at this time and investigations are ongoing.