smuggling of cocaine into Ireland which passed through Alicante.

Spanish police arrested a number of people related to the smuggling of cocaine into Ireland which passed through Alicante.

The arrests came after an eight-month investigation into the gang's operations by the Irish Police, British police and the authorities in Spain and the Netherlands. Police sources said the gang were a major part of the wholesale organization for cocaine importation into Ireland. The gang is thought to have been responsible for the supply of drugs to gangs in Dublin and Limerick.

Senior sources said the arrests were a major blow to drug-dealers here who have been sourcing their cocaine from Spain. It should significantly reduce the amount of the drug available on the streets in Ireland for the near future.
The gang's ringleader a 40 year old Dubliner was one of the suspects being held by police in Alicante. Another man form Birmingham with Irish connections was also being held. A Venezuelan and a Hungarian woman were also in police custody. All the members of the gang were caught in the car park of the Holiday Inn in Alicante in two cars on Friday night. Between them they had almost €200,000 worth of cocaine and €30,000 in cash