Irish criminals and their EU counterparts are exporting cocaine to non-EU countries as the market here becomes saturated, Europol has warned. As of 2017 the market for the drug was worth €9.1 billion according to Europol’s Drug Markets report. Europol identifies the Kinahan organised crime gang as one of the major drug gangs operating in the EU. Europol also noted major Irish drug gangs, like their counterparts in other EU countries, are expanding their operations to rural towns, rather than simply selling their drugs wholesale to dealers in those towns. The agency also noted the emergence of criminal “service industry” where major drug gangs contract work out to third parties, including “hitmen” from other countries.

Source: The Irish Times November 27, 2019 03:22 UTC