GARDAI smashed a Brit-led gang’s attempts to smuggle €31million worth of cocaine through Ireland today.
The massive haul was snatched off the southwest coast after armed gardai intervened in Courtmacsherry, Cork — with two men arrested.
Detectives are probing if the drugs had come from South America and suspect that Ireland was being used as “a gateway” to send the shipment onto England.
The Irish Navy caught two other members of the gang who had attempted to flee in a high-powered Rigid Inflatable Boat.
A source told The Irish Sun: “It was a hugely successful operation by gardai and their partners and should serve as a major warning for international drug gangs targeting the Irish coastline.”
The seizure is the largest since the €157million nabbed on board the MV Matthew in September 2023, with eight of its crew set to be sentenced at the Special Criminal Court later this week.
The dramatic operation in the early hours of this morning came off the back of intelligence received by gardai.
A joint task force led by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau — which included Revenue, the Irish Naval Service and local cops — had monitored a number of men and vehicles for over 24 hours in the run-up to the seizure.
The coke was brought ashore just after 4am this morning and packed into a van off Broadstrand.
When gardai looking on saw enough, the Emergency Response Unit intervened and stopped the van with their guns drawn.
Two men from the UK and Germany were taken from the vehicle as cops recovered the cocaine.
At the same time, two men who were on the RIB fled as the Naval Service gave chase.
SUSPECT BOAT INTERCEPTED
The Irish Naval ship L.E. William Butler Yeats — on patrol in the area as part of the op — responded, supported by a Maritime patrol aircraft from the Irish Air Corps, who also provided overhead surveillance during the operation.
Two Naval Service rigid-hulled inflatable boats, carrying armed members from the Maritime Interdiction Team, were launched from the L.E. William Butler Yeats and intercepted the suspect boat off the coast of Cork.
These two suspects — one from Scotland and the other from England — were later caught and handed over to gardai.
A source said: “Gardai suspect these individuals were part of a UK organised crime gang.
“At this stage it appears the drugs were destined for the UK market and Ireland was being used as a gateway.
“Clearly a lot of planning had gone into this and work is underway to establish who else was involved, aside from the arrested men.”
The four suspects — all aged in their 30s and 40s — have been arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking and could be hit with a variety of charges under gangland legislation.
They can be held for a week before being either charged or released, with detectives liaising with the Director of Public Prosecutions.
COPS’ PROBES
Gardai are working closely with Interpol and colleagues in the UK as part of their efforts to establish the suspects’ backgrounds.
Investigators are also probing if Irish criminal gangs who provide certain logistical and transport support to other known criminal networks were involved.
The four men in custody are said to be vital cogs in the wheel in this particular operation but lower down the chain of command.
Two are suspected of collecting the drug shipment and bringing it to shore while the other two were there to collect it.
Gardai also believe the drugs were initially collected by a mother ship, but it has yet to be located.
In recent weeks, senior Gardai in Cork have held briefings to discuss the threat posed by transnational drugs gangs over the summer months.
Although Europe’s traditional drug networks have previously used the summer to transport shipments of cocaine across the Atlantic, they have also arranged shipments in late autumn and spring.
GANGS MORE ‘BRAZEN’
A source said: “The international gangs seem to be more brazen and their shipments are happening all year round now.
“They have vessels that can be used in adverse weather conditions.
“They also have access to RIBs that are faster than some of those used by the Irish Naval Service.”
West Cork Fine Gael Senator Noel O’Donovan and ex-member of An Garda Siochana commended the work of local and national units of the force as well as the Naval Service and Air Corps.
He said: “Early indications say this operation was under surveillance for the last number of days so that is a testament to all involved for their professionalism and success in combating the importation of drugs and its further transportation.
“This is a significant detection — the biggest drug bust in Ireland this year.
“In West Cork, we are well aware how narcotics can be smuggled into this country and the continent.
“All involved in this operation — An Garda Siochana, Naval Service, Air Corps — have worked extremely well together and shown their capabilities in taking on criminal gangs and international smugglers.”
INCREASED NEED FOR RESOURCES
O’Donovan added: “This capture highlights again the increased need for further Garda resources in West Cork — more Gardai patrolling our rural areas prevents and deters criminal activity.
“And indeed further investment in our Naval Service and Air Corp to continue this good work and combat criminality.
“I will be working with all, including Tanaiste and Defence Minister Simon Harris, to progress this.”
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan also hailed yesterday’s op.
He said: “Another major cocaine seizure worth up to €31million by gardai this morning. Excellent co-operation involving Gardai, Defence Forces and Revenue, and another example of our work to disrupt the criminal gangs involved.”
Tanaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris posted on X: “I have been briefed by the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces on today’s significant joint-agency operation.”
He added: “I want to commend members of An Garda Siochana, Defence Forces, Naval Service and Revenue for their close collaboration in securing such a successful outcome.”
