An early October news report in the Irish Independent newspaper said one of two small rockets fired by al-Qaida terrorist affiliate Al-firqan Brigade at the vessel COSCO Asia as it transited the Suez Canal on Aug. 31 struck a container filled with smuggled cigarettes.
The illegal cargo had a reported street value in Ireland of R58 million and belonged to a group of businessmen with connections to the Irish Republican Army.
Authorities decided to put the container back in service and, using a tracking device, followed it to its final destination, a small community outside Dundalk, Ireland. The shipment, which originated in Vietnam, transshipped via Rotterdam where it was loaded onto a feeder ship to Dublin.
The Independent said four men were arrested for suspected tax evasion, but were ultimately released without charge.
Commentary: Lucky shot?
