foolsgold
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Police said the drugs had been sent under armed guard for forensic examination
Police have discovered one of the biggest amounts of cocaine ever found in Northern Ireland in a delivery of furniture.
Detectives said 50kg of the drug was found at commercial premises in County Tyrone on Tuesday.
Officers identified two suitcases packed with bags of white powder that tested as cocaine.
A detective said: "A conservative value for this haul would be £2.5m. A street value would be substantially higher."
In an unconnected incident, Dutch authorities have seized 20kg of cocaine at a port in the Netherlands that police believe was destined for the County Fermanagh area of Northern Ireland.
Police said this seizure has been "conservatively valued at £1m". No-one was arrested.
'Fortuitous'
In Tyrone, Det Supt Mullan said that after receiving information, officers examined the recently delivered container of furniture in which they made the "fortuitous" discovery.
"It is undoubtedly one of the biggest cocaine finds ever made in Northern Ireland," he said.
"To put this in context, over a three-year period from 2011/12 to 2013/14, PSNI seized a total of 49kg of cocaine in 1,053 seizure incidents - this is an average of 47 grammes per seizure incident.
"There were only two seizures of 3kg or more. Half of all seizures were of just one gramme or less. Last night we got 50kg."
The drugs were found hidden in two suitcases
He said there was no suggestion that the company based at the premises knew what was in the container. No-one has been arrested.
"We will be working with law enforcement colleagues in various parts of the world to establish where this came from, where it was going to and who was involved," he said.
"It is unlikely that such a substantial amount was destined for the Northern Ireland market, but we'll see where our enquiries lead."
He said initial tests of the white powder had registered it as cocaine, and it had been sent under armed guard for detailed forensic examination.
Justice Minister David Ford said the seizure "will undoubtedly prevent more misery and possibly save lives".
"We must never become complacent about the dangers of illegal drugs, because they ruin lives and can ruin communities," he said.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-30219264
