Niall O'Connor
THE PORT OF Foynes has been exploited by international drug smugglers, but it is policed by just two gardaí, The Journal has learned.
While there’s been much media focus on the Aughinish Alumina refinery’s activities and Russian connections, there are also issues in the area of concern to State security agencies.
Foynes was once the site of a transatlantic seaplane base but is now a quiet patch of houses and businesses with a relatively small cargo ship handling operation close to one of Europe’s biggest alumina refineries.
Today, the criminal activities at the port of concern to state security agencies include international drugs trafficking from South America and suspicions by security services of people trafficking.
The Shannon estuary is seen as a major vulnerability for drug smuggling because of its coves, inlets and makeshift piers.
It is understood security agencies have mapped the shoreline and tidal areas for potential drop-off points.
In recent years, €21 million worth of cocaine was seized onboard the MV Verila, while another seizure associated with the MV Royal saw €44 million worth of cocaine seized.
Sources said the Shannon estuary has a number of locations where drug traffickers are suspected of collecting drugs that have been left to float from passing ships.
Two gardaí
We now reveal that garda management has posted just two gardaí to the busy town and those two gardaí, because of their rosters, very rarely if ever work together.
There are other uniformed gardaí in the area in Glin and Askeaton, but again they are solo crews with much of their time taken up with answering calls and patrolling a huge area of ground.
As one source put it: “There is essentially one garda at a time policing the whole of the N69.”
Within the area covered by gardaí associated with Foynes, that road travels from the outskirts of Limerick city to Tarbert. There is a garda station at Pallaskenry, Askeaton, Foynes and Glin along that route but the gardaí stationed there work alone.
The area itself is overseen by the 24-hour service at Newcastlewest Garda Station 21kms from Foynes and then on a strategic level by senior officers in Limerick city, some 40kms from the port.
A senior security source said that garda organised crime operations focus on a centralised analysis of intelligence, which is then provided to dedicated drugs units.
On a more local level, the force has also restarted an initiative known as Coastal Watch in which curious members of the public can report their suspicions, which is similar to the neighbourhood watch schemes in urban areas.
As one source, with knowledge of the rural policing in south Limerick put it, however:
“There is little can compete with the local knowledge and training of a garda who has the whole picture.”
Security sources from across the various agencies said An Garda Síochána, Customs and Irish Defence Forces intelligence personnel have also been concerned about smuggling in the area, particularly by the international drug trafficking gangs.
The bauxite used at the Aughinish Alumina facility comes generally from mines in Brazil and in Africa. Bauxite is a red coloured clay like rock and is the primary ore for aluminium and gallium. Bauxite shipments are not the issue, the problem is cartels have used the route to traffic their drugs to Ireland and onto Europe.
Sources said drug traffickers have previously used shipments of various cargoes on a variety of vessels bringing cargo to Foynes as part of their operations. These shipments are not just the bauxite from South America but other shipments coming to the port.
There is no suggestion that the factory or any of its employees are involved in drug smuggling. It is a hugely secure facility with advanced surveillance equipment and its security force liaises directly with a senior garda based in south Limerick.
Vulnerability
Besides the lack of gardaí in the area there is also a small team of Revenue Customs officers at the port who monitor imports and other aspects of shipments coming and going from the port and Aughinish.
A source with knowledge of their operations said they are focused on items coming and going rather than people.
One issue identified by sources is the free movement of people off ships, as there is no permanent immigration presence in the area. Sources have also said that there were concerns in recent years that vessels moving cattle from North Africa and coming into Waterford and Foynes may be exploited by people traffickers.
It is understood this route has ended, but there are still concerns that the ships and the lack of monitoring may mean that small groups of people could arrive at the port, get off a ship and vanish without being checked.
A garda spokeswoman said that resources are provided to Foynes when they are required.
“Appointed Immigration Officers attached to the Divisional Immigration Unit are assigned to Foynes to deal with Immigration matters as and when required.
“Local resources providing a policing service in Foynes are augmented through the deployment of Divisional and Regional resources.
“The deployment of Divisional resources to Foynes includes, but is not limited to, the deployment of members of the Divisional Drugs Unit to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, and to successfully target individuals and groups involved in the drug trade,” she said.
The spokeswoman added that they were “not aware” of human trafficking in Foynes and she recommended members of the public utilise the Coast Watch system to alert gardaí of suspicious activity.
A spokeswoman for Revenue Customs confirmed that a small team is based at Foynes Port and there is also a team on the other side of the estuary at Shannon Airport. They manage the area from a Customs perspective.
“These teams cover both trade facilitation functions, including the proper filing of customs declarations and customs clearance of cargo for import and export, as well as enforcement checks for prohibited and restricted items, including illicit drugs.
“This may include physical inspection and boarding of vessels as deemed appropriate and based on risk profiling and analysis,” the spokeswoman said.
Customs said that extra Revenue personnel can be called in and that local units operations are focused on intelligence provided on a national basis from the maritime and information analysis.