Washed-up cocaine haul could be valued at almost €3million

A cargo of cocaine, believed to be valued at almost €3million, was found washed up by unsuspecting walkers at two Donegal beaches on Wednesday morning.

The drugs were packed into bales, encased in black plastic wrapping. One eye-witness said one of the packages was ‘the size of a suitcase’.

The first package was discovered at Ballyhiernan Beach, Fanad at around 8.30am. Around half-an-hour later, a similar package was found washed up at Tramore Beach in Dunfanaghy.

The packages are suspected of containing a substance believed to be cocaine. The packages have been sent to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) analysis. The scenes were subject of a technical examination by the Divisional Scenes of Crime Unit.

Gardai in Milford were alerted and an investigation has begun involving the Garda Air Support Unit and the Garda Water Unit.

Donegal Live understands that Gardai have been monitoring the potential trafficking of illegal drugs into the county in recent days. The operation has been trained on marine vessels in the Atlantic Ocean.

The packages have yet to be formally analysed, but sources close to the investigation suggest that the packages could contain as much as 40kg worth of cocaine.

Although Gardai are remaining tight-lipped, a source described the find as ’significant’ in the fight against drugs in the county.

In March 2021, detectives found 41 kilogrammes of cocaine in a van at Kilmacrennan. That stash was said to have been worth an estimated €2.8 million.

A Garda spokesperson told Donegal Live: “An Garda Síochána in Milford are appealing to landowners in the Fanad Head area with coastal land and/ or any persons using the North Donegal Coastline over the coming days to be conscious of the packages that have been recovered today. 

“Any person who sees any similar package or any other marine debris that attracts their attention to contact An Garda Síochána at the investigation team at Milford Garda Station 074 9153060, their local Garda station or the Garda Confidential Phone number 1800 666 111.”