An Irish man, along with a British and a Bulgarian national, has been detained in Peru following the seizure of 55 kilograms of cocaine from the trunk of a rental car. The 40-year-old Irish suspect has appeared in court and remains in custody.
The trio was apprehended by detectives who had been monitoring their activities. They intercepted a rented Nissan in which the cocaine was discovered hidden in suitcases. The suspects had been under surveillance since July 21 after entering Peru separately.
Reports indicate that the Irish man collapsed in shock during the arrest, as shown in a video circulating online, which captures the moment police discovered the drugs. The group had been using an apartment in Lima’s La Molina district and were allegedly preparing to smuggle the cocaine to the UK.
The Bulgarian, described locally as a significant figure in drug trafficking, was reportedly working with Irish and British criminals to transport the cocaine from South America to Europe.
Authorities have also arrested several local suppliers involved in the drug operation.
This case echoes a similar high-profile incident from August 2013, when Michaella McCollum and Melissa Reid, known as the Peru Two, were caught attempting to smuggle 11 kilos of cocaine. They were initially sentenced to six years and eight months but later returned to the UK after serving part of their sentences.
McCollum authored a book about her experience, titled *You’ll Never See Daylight Again.*
