In a significant blow to international drug trafficking networks, Irish authorities have seized 440kg of cocaine following a coordinated maritime interdiction operation off the coast of Cork, Ireland.
The drugs were offloaded from a suspected mother vessel — a 200-metre bulk carrier arriving from South America — and collected at sea by a go-fast, which subsequently landed at Broad Strand, near Courtmacsherry, on Tuesday.
Four individuals — two Scottish nationals, one English and one German — were arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt. According to An Garda Síochána, the group operated in two teams: a “maritime team” responsible for retrieving the drugs at sea, and a “ground team” which was intercepted onshore on July 1st while attempting to transport the consignment by van.
Authorities believe the group behind this operation may be linked to an earlier successful importation of between 500kg and one tonne of cocaine into western Ireland earlier this year.
This seizure is the largest of its kind in Ireland since the 2.25 tonnes recovered from the MV Matthew in September 2023 and underscores the continued threat posed by maritime drug trafficking from South America into Europe.
MAOC (N) commends the multi-agency cooperation involved in this operation and remains fully committed to supporting its partners in the ongoing fight against transnational organised crime.
