Naval Service detains suspected drug traffickers after ‘€30m cocaine’ sea chase off west Cork – 1v1 Video Chat & LIve Streaming & Influencer Subscription

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A stock image of two RHIBs carrying an armed Naval Service boarding team.Irish Defence Forces

courtmacsherry

Naval Service detains suspected drug traffickers after ‘€30m cocaine’ sea chase off west Cork

The Journal has learned that a two day drugs interdiction operation has seized €35m of suspected cocaine.The seizure is Ireland’s biggest this year.

11.15am, 1 Jul 2025

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LAST UPDATE

23 mins ago

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 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 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).

They 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.

It is believed they met a so-called “mother ship” ship offshore in what is known as “coopering” and were bringing the drugs back to shore to be loaded into a British registered van.

During the operation the Air Corps’ CASA C295 was orbiting overhead and 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 and a large quantity of suspected Cocaine has been recovered (exact quantity and value yet to be determined).

“Two males (30s and 40s) have been arrested and are currently detained in a Garda Station in Co. Cork under section 50 Criminal Justice Act 2007.

“The operation is supported by the Joint Task Force partners, Revenue’s Customs Service, the Irish Naval Service, and local Gardaí and the Irish Air Corps,” the statement said.

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