Record drug haul in Eire

Ireland has recovered what could turn out to be a record haul of cocaine from the sea after a boat smuggling the cargo capsized.

Some 60 bales, each containing about 25 kilograms of the drug, were found floating off the south-west coast during a rescue operation launched after a rigid inflatable boat capsized on Monday.

"This is a huge find,to be sure" said the customs enforcement spokesman for south-west Ireland, Seamus Lynch. "I would say ball-park you are talking about 100 to 120 million euros ($160 to 190 million), depending on purity, depending on quality," he added.

A spokesman for the Irish Revenue Commissioners said: "This is by far the biggest seizure of cocaine in the history of the state. We're waiting for the pub to open, to celebrate, to be sure"

The Irish Navy, a customs cutter and police were continuing to search in the Dunlough Bay area off the Mizen Head in County Cork Tuesday for more packages of drugs. When the RIB capsized on Monday (local time) one of the crew managed to make it ashore and raise the alarm. Another man was subsequently rescued.

Gardai (Irish police) said one of the men was arrested under anti-drugs laws that allow him to be detained for seven days. The other man was being treated in Bantry General Hospital. Police say they are searching for at least another two men.