6 days ago
Irish dad dies in Ecuador days after €600,000 'cocaine seizure' arrest with son
An Irish father died in a South American hospital – just days after he was paraded in front of a camera over an alleged cocaine bust.
The man, who was 64 and from County Offaly, died of a suspected heart attack in Ecuador on August 6 – just three days after cops released this image of him and his son under arrest.
The pair were detained on August 3 after Ecuador cops allegedly foiled a plot to smuggle cocaine worth around €600,000 from there to Madrid in Spain.
The cops also showed off some of the drugs they alleged were in the men's luggage when it was impounded at the airport in Guayaquil, a port city in the west of Ecuador. Cops also alleged they recovered two pistols, ammunition and cash in the men's luggage.
The father and son were immediately taken into custody but it is understood the older man, who was well known in Offaly, became ill and died in hospital on August 6. Drugs allegedly seized from the Irish father and son (Image: X/Policia Nacional del Ecuador)
Sources tell us gardai were aware of the arrests, but said neither man had any suspected connections to major criminality in Ireland.
And the Department of Foreign Affairs tonight said it was aware of the case. The Irish father and son after their arrest in Ecuador for alleged drugs smuggling. (Image: X/Policía Nacional del Ecuador)
A spokesman told us: 'The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance. As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases.'
Ecuador cops posted a pixelated photo of the father and son on their social media page on August 3 – and said officers had prevented drugs being sent to Spain.
It said: 'We prevented the shipment of 15 drugs packages to Madrid valued at approximately $700,000 (€600,000).' Handguns, ammunition and cash allegedly seized from the Irishmen. (Image: X/Policia Nacaional del Ecuador)
The statement added: 'During a control operation carried out in Guayaquil, police personnel apprehended two foreign citizens who were transporting 15 blocks containing 14,730 grams of cocaine hidden in their luggage.
'With this action, the commercialization of approximately 147,300 doses of drugs was prevented. The estimated value of the narcotic in the European market amounts to $688,627.50."
As well as the drugs, cops alleged they seized two pistols, ammunition, cash, a digital scale and bill counter and electronic devices. Handguns and ammunition seized from the Irishmen. (Image: X/Policia Nacional del Ecuador)
Neither man had been convicted of any offence by the time the older suspect died. It is understood his son is still in custody in Ecuador. Anyone convicted of drugs smuggling there faces at least 10 years in prison.
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