Ahern says it is 'virtually impossible' to police the State's coastline

IT IS “virtually impossible” to police the Republic’s coastline, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern has said.

Commenting on this week’s cocaine haul off the west Cork coast, he said while the Irish authorities had intercepted Dances With Waves there was “some suggestion” the drugs were not going to be landed in Ireland for smuggling to their suspected final UK destination.

Mr Ahern said it should now be clear to gangs that Ireland and its EU partners were serious about targeting drug trafficking. The authorities in the US were also involved with European governments in the “constant battle” on the international drugs trade.

He said two weeks ago he had raised with his EU justice minister colleagues the prospect of European countries focusing more on smuggling routes to Europe from south America via west Africa.

He said there were 3.5 million cocaine users in Europe, and these people must understand that their drug consumption was funding organised crime gangs across the world.

Defence Forces chief-of-staff Lieut Gen Dermot Earley said: “The sharp end of this operation will grab headlines. However, it is also an occasion to point to the excellent co-operation between the Naval Service, An Garda Síochána and the Customs Service.”

Fine Gael’s justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan TD welcomed the seizure, but said customs inspections were inadequate, particularly at many airports.