Two men (30s and 40s) arrested as gardai seize ‘large quantity' of cocaine in van in Co Cork
Two men have been arrested after gardai discovered a 'large quantity' of suspected cocaine in a van that was stopped in Co Cork this morning.
Gardaí from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau intercepted the van in the Courtmacsherry area as part of a joint Task Force Drugs Interdiction operation.
Courtmacsherry, County Cork. Photo: Creative Commons
Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 1st
Gardai say the operation that is supported by Revenue's Customs Service, the Irish Naval Service, local gardaí and the Irish Air Corps is 'ongoing' and no further details are available.
However, further updates will be provided 'in due course'.
Meanwhile, the two men who were arrested, one in his 30s and the other in his 40s, are currently detained in a Garda Station in Co Cork under section 50 Criminal Justice Act 2007.
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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. Most read in Irish News Two men from the UK and 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 A source said: 'Gardai suspect these individuals were part of a UK organised 'At this stage it appears the drugs were destined for the '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 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 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. 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Extra.ie
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Four people arrested following cocaine seizure worth €31m in Cork
The significant drugs haul is understood to have been brought ashore in the early hours of Tuesday morning after being collected by a 'landing crew'. A Joint Task Force had been established after intelligence was received about the maritime drug smuggling effort and involved gardaí, the Defence Forces and Revenue. Detectives from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) stopped a van in Courtmacsherry, Cork, this morning as part of the investigation. A significant amount of cocaine, believed to be around 500 kilos, was recovered. While the weight of the drugs has yet to be confirmed, the initial figure indicates a street value of around €31 million. Two men, aged in their 30s and 40s, were arrested and are currently being held on organised crime offences. They have been described as the 'landing crew' of the operation who collected the drug shipment after it was brought to shore by another cell commonly referred to as the 'collection crew'. Elsewhere, the Irish Naval ship the LE William Butler Yeats responded to the departure of a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) from Broadstrand, Courtmacsherry. The LE William Butler Yeats had been on patrol in the area as part of the Joint Task Force operation. Maritime patrol aircraft from the Irish Air Corps provided overhead surveillance during the operation. Two Naval Service RIBs with members of the armed 'maritime interdiction team' were launched from LE William Butler Yeats and intercepted the suspect vessel off the coast of Cork. The suspect vessel was detained by Revenue Customs Service and the two men were taken on board the LE William Butler Yeats. The LE William Butler Yeats returned to Haulbowline Naval Base and both men, also aged in their 30s and 40s, were arrested by gardai and detained at a Garda Station in Co Cork under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. Drug smuggling networks have been using cell structures in recent years to compartmentalise operations and protect the overall criminal network involved. Those involved in the operation included Scottish nationals and gardaí are inquiring if the drugs were destined for the UK market. In a statement gardaí said: 'A Joint task Force Drugs Interdiction operation is ongoing at this time in Co. Cork. '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. 'As this is an ongoing operation no further details are available at this time. 'Further updates will be provided in due course.' Tánaiste Simon Harris, who is also Defence Minister, said today: '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.' While Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan posted on X: "Another major cocaine seizure worth up to €35m by @GardaInfo this morning. "Excellent cooperation involving Gardaí, @defenceforces and Revenue, and another example of our work to disrupt the criminal gangs involved".
