This article is from page 1 of the 2006-07-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 1 JPG
THE drugs seizure in east Clare at the weekend is one of the largest ever hauls in the mid-west.
While the quantity of drugs seized on a back road near O’Briensbridge on Friday morning has not yet been calculated, garda sources say it may have a street value of up to €9 million.
One man has been charged in connection with €2 million of the haul, while a court was told yesterday that further charges may follow.
The last major drugs haul in Clare was in November 1996, when £16million worth of cannabis was found on the luxury motor cruiser, Plongeur Wisky, after it arrived at Cappagh, Kilrush, with engine trouble.
Colin Lees, from Magherafelt, Derry, was sentenced to 12 years in jail, in connection with the 1.7 tonnes seizure.
Three months earlier, 50kgs of cocaine, valued at £8million, was found aboard the cargo vessel, ‘Front Guider’ after it arrived at Moneypoint from Colombia.
A major haul of cannabis was uncovered in Smithstown, Shannon, on May 8, 1995, when it was found concealed in a container of sunflower oil, which had arrived from Spain. Those drugs, which were found on a truck, were valued at an estimated £4million. Two men from Limerick were arrested but no charges followed.
In 1993, £20 million worth of cannabis – which was the biggest drugs seizure in the history of the State at the time – was discovered on the yacht, The Brime, off Loop Head, after it had travelled from Morocco. The man suspected of being the mastermind behind this drug smuggling attempt was never convicted in connection with the seizure.
Last Friday’s haul followed the seizure of €1million in drugs, along with firearms, in Limerick, a fortnight ago.
Political representatives in the mid-west have praised the gardaí involved in last Friday’s operation, which involved several members of the Garda National Drugs Unit, the Clare Garda Divisional Drugs Unit and Killaloe gardaí.