A search is under way off the Aran Islands tonight, following the discovery of a number of packages of cannabis resin in the sea about 96km west of the islands.
The packages were found in the nets of an Irish trawler which was fishing in the area this afternoon. The naval vessel the LE Aoife is on its way to the area.
Gardaí and custom officials are also involved in the investigation. A Garda spokesman said they have not been able to establish how many packages have been taken on board the trawler.
The discovery was made in the same area in which a Co Donegal registered trawler found about a dozen packages of cannabis with an estimated street value of €100,000 in July.
It is believed that the drugs were dropped over board from a boat sometime earlier this year. Gardaí say they have no further information on the size or value of the cannabis.
Separately in Cork, a 43-year-old man has been arrested following the seizure of 21kg of herbal cannabis at Cork Airport.
The man, who is from South Africa, was arrested after he arrived at the airport on a flight from Johannesburg via Heathrow.
The drugs, with an estimated street value of €250,000, were discovered when customs officers opened the man's suitcase.
