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LAST UPDATE | 1 Jul
GARDAÍ HAVE ARRESTED two men after they were allegedly caught bringing a huge quantity of cocaine ashore in west Cork after a high speed sea chase.
The Journal has learned that a two-day drugs interdiction operation has seized an estimated €30m of suspected cocaine.The seizure is Ireland’s biggest this year. The incident happened off Broad Strand, Courtmacsherry.
Sources have said that specialist gardaí from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau as well as the National Surveillance Unit and Emergency Response Unit were backed up by their colleagues in the Naval Service and Irish Air Corps.
As armed gardaí moved in on an English and a German national in a van on land with the drugs, two other men tried to flee in a high-powered rigid hulled inflatable boat (RHIB).
The men at sea were pursued by two RHIBs from the Naval Service and arrested, at sea, at gunpoint. They are currently in the custody of the Naval Service.
The two men were detained by sailors from the LÉ William Butler Yeats, which was the navy ship that played a crucial part in Ireland’s biggest drug seizure when it detained the MV Matthew.
The LÉ William Butler Yeats arrived in Cork Harbour and berthed at Haulbowline just after 2.30pm. The Journal observed a large number of gardaí on the quayside and two men, dressed in shorts and t-shirts, being brought from the ship to the crowd of gardaí.
They were then led away to waiting cars, by plain clothes detectives dressed in garda raid jackets.
Sources said that it is believed they met a so-called “mother ship” offshore in what is known as “coopering” and were bringing the drugs back to shore to be loaded into a British registered van.
Sources have said that the mothership has been brought to Cork and will be searched.
That ship, registered in the Caribbean, is in Ringaskiddy having travelled from South America – she will be subject to a massive and intrusive search by specialist Customs Officers along with gardaí.
During the operation, the Air Corps’ CASA C295 was orbiting overhead and it followed the drugs ship along the south coast.
Two of the arrested men have been taken to Bandon Garda Station and have been detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act. They can be detained for a maximum of seven days.
In a statement, gardaí said that the Joint Task Force drugs interdiction was still ongoing.
“This morning, Gardaí from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau stopped a van in the Courtmacsherry area of County Cork. Cocaine valued in excess of €31million (subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland) has been seized by Revenue Customs Service.
“The two males (30s and 40s) arrested while travelling in the van remain detained in a Garda Station in Co. Cork under Section 50 Criminal Justice Act 2007.
“A Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB) with two males on board departed from Broadstrand, Courtmacsherry.
“The Irish Naval ship, L.É. William Butler Yeats on patrol in the area as part of the Joint Task Force operation responded, supported by a Maritime patrol aircraft from the Irish Air Corps, who provided overhead surveillance during the operation.
“Two Naval Service RHIBs, with members of ships armed Maritime interdiction Team, were launched from LÉ William Butler Yeats and intercepted the suspect RHIB off the coast of Cork. The suspect RHIB was detained by Revenue Customs Service and the two males were taken on board the L.É. William Butler Yeats.
“The LÉ William Butler Yeats returned to Haulbowline Naval Base and both males (also aged in their 30s and 40s) have been arrested by Gardaí and are currently detained in a Garda Station in Co. Cork under Section 50 Criminal Justice Act 2007,” gardaí said.
The Tánaiste Simon Harris, who is Minister for Defence said: “I have been briefed by the Chief of Staff of the defence forces on today’s significant joint-agency operation in Cork.
“I want to commend members of An Garda Síochána, Defence Forces, Naval Service and Revenue for their close collaboration in securing such a successful outcome.”
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