Cocaine: How do you destroy two tonnes of illegal drugs?

Cocaine, methamphetamine, cannabis and heroin are among the drugs which smugglers attempt to bring to Ireland.

"In September, authorities in the Republic of Ireland thwarted a criminal operation by executing the largest drug seizure in the nation's history. Law enforcement intercepted over two tonnes of cocaine from a cargo ship off the County Cork coast.

During that month, Irish revenue officials recorded 7,407 drug seizures, valued at approximately €237 million (£206 million). They destroyed about €47 million (£40 million) worth of the seized drugs, with the majority being cocaine—an addictive stimulant derived from the South American coca plant.

The disposal process for confiscated drugs generally follows a standard procedure, as described by Tim Sumont, a scientific analyst at the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). This typically involves recording the drug seizure, extracting samples for forensic analysis, and subsequently initiating the destruction process.

According to Mr. Sumont, the common method of drug disposal involves using incinerators capable of processing large quantities. However, there are challenges associated with this approach. Incineration costs remain fixed regardless of the weight to be destroyed, leading authorities to accumulate a significant volume of drugs before incineration. Cocaine, in particular, burns inefficiently, limiting the daily processing capacity of most incinerators to about a tonne or two.

The storage of confiscated drugs becomes a logistical issue, necessitating specialized secure locations and manpower until a substantial quantity can be incinerated at once. Excessive drug volumes, as witnessed at the Port of Antwerp in Belgium, pose a dilemma, as authorities struggle to dispose of them expediently. For instance, in 2022, customs officials at the port seized a record 110 tonnes of cocaine, leading to an insufficient disposal rate.

In response to the overflow of seized drugs, the Belgian government augmented its incineration capacity and invested in additional secure storage facilities. Despite these measures, criminal attempts persist. Recent reports revealed a gang of armed individuals intercepted by Belgian police near the port, suspected of attempting to reclaim a shipment of seized drugs."In 2021, Ecuador faced a significant challenge when authorities seized over 200 tonnes of cocaine, surpassing the country's incineration capabilities. This led the government to seek assistance from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to address the issue. 

UNODC, responsible for developing disposal guidelines for numerous nations, recommended an expedited and environmentally conscious approach known as encapsulation to manage the surplus. 

Encapsulation involves a specific mixture of cocaine, cement, sand, and water in prescribed proportions. This mixture is utilized, for instance, in constructing concrete platforms for storage facilities at waste disposal sites, creating a chemically reactive compound during the setting process. The resulting product is a stable, durable, and impermeable matrix, preventing environmental contamination that might occur through burial or incineration at lower temperatures. 

UNODC highlighted the advantage of encapsulation, noting that while destroying 10 tonnes of cocaine might take up to two weeks through traditional means, encapsulation can safely process the same quantity within a single day. 

Shifting to the year 2022, Irish officials reported over 10,000 drug seizures. The significant seizure of the MV Matthew was linked to a South American cartel by Garda (Irish police) Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly. The drugs were suspected to be destined for Ireland and other parts of Europe, emphasizing the island's pivotal role in the global drug trade. 

An Garda Síochána, the Irish police force, ensures that confiscated drugs are securely and safely disposed of once they are no longer necessary for evidential purposes. Nevertheless, despite these efforts, Irish Revenue statistics indicate substantial volumes of drugs still housed in warehouses across the country, a situation reminiscent of the challenges experienced by European counterparts.