Gardaí believe a British-German trafficking gang intended to transport the €31 million cocaine seized in Cork yesterday across the border and onto a ferry to Scotland for distribution throughout the UK.
A two-day investigation, which began with surveillance by the Garda National Surveillance Unit and concluded with a high-speed chase of fleeing gang members by Naval Service fast boats, resulted in the arrest of all four individuals involved in the drug importation operation. Authorities believe the operation was led by Scottish nationals.
The arrested individuals include two Scots, one Englishman, and one German, all aged between 30 and 40. Security sources describe them as playing a “critical” role in the “logistics” of the operation.
Two of the men were apprehended with approximately 443 kg of cocaine after the Garda Emergency Response Unit and armed officers from the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau intercepted their van in Courtmacsherry.
The other two individuals, aboard a fast rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB), were pursued by two Naval Service RHIBs carrying armed members of the NS Maritime Interdiction Team and intercepted off the Cork coast.
The RHIB in question had been used to transport the cocaine from a mother ship offshore to Broad Strand Beach, located just south of Courtmacsherry.
Irish agencies have identified the suspected mother ship as a bulk carrier cargo ship registered in Barbados. They are currently monitoring its movements; it was last located in the Atlantic Northeast.
The EU drug interdiction agency MAOC-N, which assisted in the operation, is reportedly providing assistance in tracking the vessel.
Authorities suspect the ship may have docked at an Irish port recently to discharge legitimate cargo before releasing the drugs at sea for the landing team. This tactic has been observed by European authorities.
High tide occurred at 3 AM on Tuesday, and it is believed the cocaine was brought ashore directly onto Broad Strand beach and loaded into the van shortly before 4 AM.
“The entire team has been apprehended, along with almost half a tonne of cocaine,” a security source stated. “There was full Joint Task Force (JTF) deployment and a great result achieved”.
The JTF includes An Garda Síochána, Revenue, the Irish Naval Service, and the Air Corps.
The JTF, likely through Revenue, has contacted the EU drug interdiction agency MAOC-N to locate the mother ship and trace its origin, which is likely in South America or the Caribbean.
Gardaí estimate the seized cocaine to be worth approximately €31 million, based on a standard street value of €70,000 per kilogram. However, due to the fact that the haul was shipped directly from South America without being cut, its final value will probably be significantly higher.
This is the largest cocaine seizure since the 2.25-tonne haul aboard the MV Matthew off the Cork coast in September 2023, another Joint Task Force operation.
The Courtmacsherry seizure surpasses the 300kg of cocaine seized at Foynes Port in Limerick in December 2023, which was the next largest seizure in recent years.
Interviews with the four arrested men are ongoing, and forensic analysis of recovered digital devices will commence to identify recent communications.
Officers suspect the intended destination for the haul was primarily the British market.
“We suspect it was for the UK and heading that way, with the North being the easiest route, but it’s coming in through our shores,” a security source explained.
The Naval Service deployed the LÉ William Butler Yeats offshore patrol vessel and its two RHIBs pursued the gang members on their RHIB.
A Garda HQ statement read: “Two Naval Service rigid-hulled inflatable boats, with members of the ships armed Maritime Interdiction Team, were launched from LÉ William Butler Yeats and intercepted the suspect RIB off the coast of Cork.”
“The suspect RIB was detained by Revenue Customs and the two males were taken on board the LÉ William Butler Yeats. The LÉ William Butler Yeats returned to Haulbowline Naval Base and both males [were arrested] by Gardaí.”
The Butler Yeats was also involved in the MV Matthew operation. The Air Corps C295 was involved throughout the operation.
Tánaiste and Defence Minister Simon Harris and Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan commended the interagency cooperation.
