On June 22, members of the Dublin Region police force and members of the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau searched a home in Beaumount, Dublin. Several wine and champagne bottles were confiscated and found to contain liquid cocaine.
Following the seizure of drugs worth an estimated €2 million in Ireland, and several additional raids in Dublin on Wednesday, June 22 and Thursday, June 23, the Garda (Irish Police) arrested seven men who are thought to be linked to a criminal organization with ties to Colombia.
Near Palmerstown, some of the men attempted to evade capture by swimming across the River Liffey, but they were caught.
What is liquid cocaine?
Liquid cocaine is a potent central nervous system stimulant that is derived from the coca plant. It is commonly used as a recreational drug, and has been associated with a number of adverse health effects, including addiction, psychosis, and death.
Liquid cocaine is typically ingested orally, either by mixing it with another liquid or by directly consuming the drug. It can also be inhaled, injected, or smoked. The effects of the drug depend on the dose and route of administration.
Common effects include increased heart rate and blood pressure, euphoria, increased alertness, and improved mental function. Higher doses may lead to anxiety, paranoia, and hallucinations.
Liquid cocaine has been associated with a number of adverse health effects, including addiction, psychosis, and death. It is important to be aware of the risks associated with this drug before using it. If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to narcotics, please seek professional help.
Why are the cartels making liquid cocaine?
The first known instance of liquid cocaine dates back to 2011, when 13 kg were found in the Bolivian department of Santa Cruz, which is located near the borders with Paraguay and Brazil. It is likely that this method had been in use for years in Colombia without being noticed.
The recent seizures of liquid cocaine imply that criminal organizations have once again turned to this strategy in an effort to elude law enforcement when exporting the drugs.
Criminal networks must adapt as port controls tighten and larger and larger amounts of cocaine are discovered in Latin America and Europe. Liquid cocaine is very hard to identify using the scanners installed in ports or airports, according to a report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).
In order to make liquid cocaine, the cartels dissolve the drug in water, solvents, or other products that include chemical components like mannitol, glucose, cellulose, or even lactose. It is then possible for them to hide the drugs amid sugar cane molasses, or to have the drugs smuggled by drug mules who conceal them within shampoo bottles or other toiletries.
Liquid cocaine is much more difficult to detect than its powdered form because it is dissolved into compounds that mask its smell.
A successful strike against the cartels and organised crime in Ireland
“The outcome of operational activity undertaken by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, supported by a number of other specialised units within the Garda Síochána, over the past 24 hours, is very significant and reflects exceptional policing skills along with dedication and bravery on the part of the personnel involved.
Arising from the global aspect of the drug supply networks that deliver drugs to cities and towns in Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK and elsewhere in Europe, the Garda Síochána has forged particularly strong and productive relationships with law enforcement entities in many countries across a number of continents.
Again today the Garda Síochána and the people of Ireland reap the benefits of the Garda Síochána’s outreach at a global level.
Large quantities of drugs have been seized, along with a significant quantity of money suspected to be proceeds of drug trafficking. Persons believed to operate at a significant level within the world of organised crime have been identified and arrested. A drug trafficking route has been identified and disrupted and a new method of concealing controlled substances has been identified and exposed.”
Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links. When you use one of these affiliate links, the company compensates us. At no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission, which helps us run this blog and keep our in-depth content free of charge for all our readers.
