A major drugs gang which gardaí believe has been smuggling a significant portion of all of the cocaine entering the State were being questioned by Spanish police last night after their arrest in Alicante.
The arrests came after an eight-month investigation into the gang's operations by gardaí, British police and the authorities in Spain and the Netherlands. Sources described the group as cocaine "wholesalers and organisers" and said Friday's arrests were "very significant". The gang has recently been supplying cocaine to most of the drugs gangs in Dublin and Limerick.
Senior Garda sources last night said the arrests were a major blow to drug-dealers here who have been sourcing their cocaine from Spain. It should significantly reduce the amount of the drug available on the streets for some time. About 80 per cent of Europe's cocaine enters through Spain, usually from South America. Cocaine seizures in the Republic trebled last year to 107kg, or almost €10 million.
The gang's ringleader was one of those being held last night. He is a 40-year-old from Dublin, who has based himself in southern Spain for two or three years. A 44-year-old man from Birmingham who has Irish connections was also being questioned.
A man from Venezuela who holds a British passport and a Hungarian woman were also being held.
Three of the four were arrested in the Holiday Inn car-park in Alicante. They were in two vehicles, in which almost €200,000 worth of cocaine and €30,000 in cash was found.
The Venezuelan man was arrested in a follow-up operation at the Alicante home of the Dublin man.
Senior Garda sources last night said that during the eight-month investigation there were about 12 cocaine seizures here, worth €3 million, which originated with the gang.
In March gardaí discovered a cocaine-processing plant in a raid on a house on the southside of Dublin.
They recovered about €50,000 worth of cocaine at the house, a compressor and a vacuum-packer machine. Detectives believe the cocaine was sourced from Alicante.
Gardaí also seized over €1 million worth of cocaine in Dublin in June and believe the drugs were sourced from the same gang.
Cocaine is increasing in popularity as the recreational drug of choice among the drug-using community.
