Latest news with #BreakingBallyseedy


Irish Independent
19 hours ago
- Irish Independent
The Indo Daily: Breaking Ballyseedy, Ep2 – Morris O'Shea Salazar and The Sinaloa Cartel
In the first episode of 'Breaking Ballyseedy', we uncovered the mammoth drug operation taking place from a family-run garden centre in the small Kerry village of Ballyseedy, and asked how Nathan McDonnell - entrepreneur and former president of the Tralee Chamber of Commerce - found himself involved in such illegal activity. Today we explore how the crystal meth shipment made its way to Ireland and profile Morris O'Shea Salazar, who went from Kerry teenager to international drugs kingpin with the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel, which includes a direct link to the El Chapo dynasty. Ellen Coyne is joined on this concluding episode of 'Breaking Ballyseedy' by Niall Donald, Deputy Editor with the Sunday World, Ralph Regal, Southern Correspondent at the Irish Independent, and Jerry O'Sullivan, presenter of Kerry Today on Radio Kerry, to look at the unlikely Irish connection to one of the world's deadliest drug cartels, and to ask what happened to Nathan McDonnell and the Ballyseedy Empire.


Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Ep1: The Downfall of Nathan McDonnell
One haul destined for Australia catches the eyes of the authorities. When officials take a closer look, they make the most extraordinary discovery: the biggest crystal meth seizure in Irish history. But who was behind this multi-million euro drug operation? The answer would shock detectives and lead authorities around the world on a manhunt, that ultimately led them to a local family-run garden centre in the rural setting of Ballyseedy, a small town near Tralee in Co Kerry, with a population of 449. This week on The Indo Daily, we are revisiting some of our favourite mini-series we produced in 2025 so far. First up is Breaking Ballyseedy, first released on March 3rd. In this episode Ellen Coyne is joined by Ralph Riegel, Southern Correspondent at the Irish Independent, and by Jerry O'Sullivan, Presenter of Kerry Today on Radio Kerry, to look at a story steeped in family, money, and an international drugs cartel, that would rock a tiny town in the south west of Ireland.