RTÉ announce series about Ireland's biggest drug busts, Busted

RTÉ have announced a new three-part documentary, Busted, uncovering Ireland's biggest drug busts in recent years. The first part will air on Monday, November 2 at 9:35 a.m. on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.

Towns and coves on Ireland's west coast have reportedly become part of the European trafficking route used by major drug cartels. The Gardaí, Defence Forces and Customs officers have been combatting this.

The documentary includes interviews with people involved and real-time footage, including of the largest drug seizure in Ireland's history in September 2023, when 2.2 tons of cocaine with a street value of about 157€ million were seized off the coast of Cork.

Other notable moments in Busted include the discovery of 62 bundles of cocaine in a Cork cove; the largest-ever seizure of crystal meth in Ireland; and the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel's attempt to smuggle crystal meth from the Americas to Australia via a garden centre.

According to RTÉ, it was often sheer bad luck, poor planning, or bad weather that led to the discovery of the drugs by Irish officials.