/ 10 May 2005

Catch of the day

An Irish fisherman hooked more than he bargained for when a suspiciously heavy catch turned out to be a large package of cannabis, part of a submerged haul worth €400 000 (R3,1-million).

Police said on Tuesday they are investigating the origin of the drugs haul, discovered as the unnamed man fished during the weekend on the River Liffey near Manor Kilbride in County Wicklow, just south of Dublin.

His hook got snared on a mysterious item, and when he succeeded in reeling in the catch, it turned out to be cannabis resin wrapped in plastic.

The man informed the police, and divers found 12 more packages in the Liffey, with a total estimated street value of about €400 000.

”It has been sent off for analysis,” a police spokesperson said, adding: ”It was some day’s fishing.” — Sapa-AFP