Customs officers in Cork, Ireland, conducted a seizure of approximately €3 million worth of cocaine hidden within a banana shipment. The discovery was made at Ringaskiddy after the container, originating from South America, was unloaded. This operation was the result of targeted risk profiling, focusing on the origin of the containers. The shipment was transported across the Atlantic on a vessel frequently referred to as "the banana boat," which docks in Cork every two weeks.
The practice of concealing narcotics within fruit shipments from South America to Europe is not uncommon, with bananas being particularly favored by Colombian drug cartels for smuggling cocaine into Europe. This method of drug smuggling has been observed on multiple occasions.
For instance, in February 2021, customs and gardaí in Ireland uncovered 172 kgs of cocaine within a fruit container from Central America. Similarly, in February of the same year, the National Crime Agency and UK Border Force seized 5.7 tonnes of cocaine in a banana container in Southampton, England. Additionally, police in the Dominican Republic recently intercepted nearly 9.5 tonnes of cocaine in a banana shipment from Guatemala to Belgium.
The seized narcotics in Ringaskiddy were reportedly intended for the Irish Christmas market, reflecting a surge in cocaine consumption in the region. By September of the current year, customs officers had confiscated drugs valued at over €170 million, marking a significant increase from the previous year. Investigations into the recent seizure are ongoing.
Source: The Irish Times