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The Journal
14-07-2025
- The Journal
Behind the scenes: Ships delivering drugs to Ireland are making drop-offs in other countries first
CARGO SHIPS DELIVERING large amounts of cocaine and other drugs to Ireland are suspected of making deliveries off the coast of Spain and Africa before coming to Irish shores, The Journal has learned. The ships, which are colloquially called motherships, meet smaller vessels off the coast and transfer the drugs in a process known as 'coopering'. Sources have said that there is growing evidence that the drug ship, the MV Matthew , the site of Ireland's biggest ever drug seizure, may have made a drop-off at the Canary Islands before moving on towards Ireland in September 2023. It is believed that a shipment of drugs last week may have performed a similar delivery off the coast of Spain, having travelled from South America before coming up towards Ireland. The transport of the huge quantities of drugs – there was an estimated €157 million worth of cocaine on board the MV Matthew – involves, for the most part, legitimate ships that are bringing goods or raw materials to Europe. Security sources have told The Journal that they are seeing a massive spike in intelligence analysis identifying corrupt crew members who are facilitating the trade. Sources said not all of the crew on the ships transporting large amounts of drugs, who are generally low-paid workers, are aware of the illegal cargo, but that there are some sailors on these ships arriving into Ireland that have done deals with drug cartels. Sources said some of the ships have tacit approval from captains and shipping companies for drug cartel operatives to travel on the voyage across the Atlantic. A pattern has been spotted where these people are listed as having unusual and extremely specific jobs such as air conditioning specialists – they are also listed aboard as ill-defined as cleaners. On the MV Matthew, a man called Cumali Ozgen was listed as a cook and cleaner for the ship, but was in reality a major player in the cartel that organised the transport of the drugs. Rather than staying with other low-level employees on the ship during the voyage, he was in a plush pilot cabin next to the bridge to monitoring proceedings. Ozgen was born in Turkey but had moved to the Netherlands, where it is suspected that he had connections to an Iranian/Dutch and north African gang. He got the biggest sentence last week out of the eight men who got jail terms for their role on the MV Matthew, receiving 20 years. The MV Matthew mothership in Cork Harbour. Niall O'Connor / The Journal Niall O'Connor / The Journal / The Journal Outlier The MV Matthew was an outlier: sources have said that the vast majority of shipments coming into Ireland with large-scale quantities of drugs are onboard ships that are also carrying legitimate cargo. The Matthew was bought solely to carry the drugs to Ireland. In one incident in which drugs were allegedly found onboard a ship arriving at a location on the west coast of Ireland last year, the drugs were found by Customs officers and gardaí in a room inside the crew quarters after a missed drop-off. Advertisement Maritime intelligence experts and gardaí monitoring the activities of the suspected ships have spotted a number of patterns. One of those is that they are able to identify the moment when smugglers 'spoof' their GPS location data, by assessing ship tracking data. This 'spoofing' is where a technological solution is used to mask the real location of the ship and to display another location. It was notably used by the crew of the MV Matthew when it was loading the drugs onto the ship at Venezuela in 2023. It is understood that it did something similar off the coast of Spain. Ireland and Spain are not the only targets with African countries such as Senegal and Cape Verde also being used as delivery points. The drugs then go either by another ship or are taken by land to cross into Europe. Sources have said Irish involvement in a European naval mission to the area was considered but it did not materialise. The US coastguard and European navies have been off the African coast monitoring the movements of suspected drug ships. Instead the European Union is donating €12m to the Cape Verde military. Spain's national police and other agencies claimed in June that they had dismantled a criminal network involved in trafficking drugs from South America to the Canary Islands. The stunning coast at Cruzinha da Garca, Santo Antao, Cape Verde. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Finding the ships Intelligence officials here and in agencies such as MAOC-N in Portugal have used a number of methods to identify ships that are suspicious. This includes the traditional intelligence gathered from human sources, known as HUMINT, not just here in Ireland but also abroad. Analysts are also used to examine changes in ownership and the movements of ships. They also marry open source intelligence with criminal activity assessments gathered from European and US-based agencies to identify ships coming from South America to Europe that may be carrying drugs. Analysts also try to establish which ships are owned by legitimate companies and those that are owned by shell or front companies that are in effect fake entities set up by organised crime gangs. These shipping fronts can have multiple different entities controlling them, and analysts have to check back through other companies to find the actual owners. In some cases, sources said, there are distinct connections between the renaming of a vessel and companies that have been sanctioned. These companies or individual ships have been identified as being involved with the so-called Shadow Fleet. The Shadow Fleet is about 500 ships worldwide involved in smuggling of oil and gas from Russia. The Journal has confirmed that the Irish Naval Service is monitoring these ships travelling up the west coast of Ireland on a regular basis. Sources have said that while the ships involved in the smuggling are not specifically classified as Shadow Fleet, they are mimicking the methods used by the Russian smugglers to ferry drugs. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
07-07-2025
- The Journal
Man arrested after multiple attempted explosive devices placed in locations around country
A MAN HAS been arrested as part of an investigation into multiple attempted improvised explosive devices (IEDs) placed in various locations around the country. Gardaí arrested the man, who is in his 40s, yesterday evening in Co Monaghan. It follows the discovery of an 'unexplained device' near an Aughinish Alumina factory in County Limerick last week. The device was found close to an oil tank at the facility on Thursday and the Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit used controlled detonations to sever key components from gas cylinders. The controlled detonations were followed by a technical examination by gardaí and army experts. The Journal understands that the arrested man is suspected of targeting water infrastructure sites as well as Aughinish Alumina. Advertisement The type of IED in question involved two gas cylinders with a battery attached to one of the cylinders, which can be heated to trigger an explosion. The device is a method known to be used at times by under-resourced insurgents in war zones. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has also been involved in the investigation. Sources said that the items used in the bombs were sourced outside the Irish state. The arrested man is being detained at a garda station under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939. 'An Garda Síochána continues to liaise with our colleagues in the PSNI in relation to this investigation,' a garda statement said this afternoon. Additional reporting by Niall O'Connor Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
French helicopter carrier visits Cobh ahead of major Atlantic invasion exercise
A FRENCH CAPTAIN of a massive helicopter and amphibious assault vessel visiting the town of Cobh has spoken about his ship's war fighting but also humanitarian mission. The Tonnerre paid a five day visit to Cork Harbour this week to rest up before they taken part in a major amphibious assault exercise on the West coast of France. The ship's name means thunder in French and it is a specialist multi-role vessel which carries helicopters and landing craft as well as hundreds of marines. At an event on the ship on Monday evening Schaar and other officers had lengthy discussions with head of the Irish Navy Commodore Michael Malone. The French ambassador Céline Place was also present and there were a number of Irish and French business leaders, county councillors as well as serving and former TDs in attendance. The French would not discuss the reports of potential purchases of armour vehicles by the Irish Defence Forces. French officials we spoke to also said they were not aware of progress with a French arms company to purchase sonar equipment for the Irish Naval Service. Capitaine de Vaisseau, or in English, Sea Captain, Adrien Schaar said that, while he is not aware of the full military cooperation with Ireland, there is a need for European navies to protect critical undersea cables and other infrastructure. France is currently laying an electric interconnector cable which will make landfall in East Cork. 'I would say most probably it is maritime surveillance – the ability to monitor what's going on around your island, around your coastline, which is a challenge that all navies, all countries have. 'Also something that is quite new, and I think is the concern for both France and Ireland, is to be able to control [what is happening] on the sea bottom – to be sure that no one is going to come and cut your cables or your critical infrastructures on the sea bottom,' he said. Captain Schaar on deck in Cobh. Niall O'Connor / The Journal Niall O'Connor / The Journal / The Journal The Mission The Tonnerre is designed to be a seabourne launch pad for a coastal invasion but has widespread pubic recognition in France for participating in humanitarian missions most recently in Haiti and in 2020 in Lebanon after the port explosion. It has also participated in missions during the Libyan and Ivory Coast civil wars also. Advertisement The ship, with a capacity for 900 soldiers and sailors, has just completed a Special Forces exercise testing the security of the French port of Cherbourg. It then headed north from a French naval base in Brest, Brittany to Ireland – it's next mission will be to meet other ships in Plymouth and head back to France to participate in a huge multinational exercise, dubbed Polaris, off the western coast. Schaar has been in command for the last two years. The Toulon native is keen to stress the humanitarian side of his work: 'I have saved more people than I've killed in this work, because most of the time we save people, most of the time we defend people. 'There are so many of these aid missions that I can't count the amount of people I have saved working on this ship.' It is understood the French ship was due to call into Dublin but as the port was full to capacity it made its way to Cobh. Regardless the Captain said, Cork Harbour's status as a cruise ship terminal, meant that the logistical restocking of stores was possible. Schaar said that the primary mission of the ship and its crew is an offensive one but they can change to deal with humanitarian crises. The Tonnerre deploying land craft. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The ship has dedicated decks for helicopters, military vehicles and even an internal dock for two landing craft. Schaar used the example of a hurricane disaster on an island country as the example of how they would respond. 'We have the storage, we have the helicopters to take the food and bring it directly to the people in very remote places, and the landing craft to go to an island that has been slaughtered by a hurricane. 'The ship has the landing craft that can go on any shore, the helicopter that can that can land in a very remote place and so on. It's very convenient to do humanitarian assistance and even to recover our nationals in a country where there is instability, like Haiti last year,' he added. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fitzgerald 'proud' as 14-man Antrim exit Leinster
Davy Fitzgerald said he was "extremely proud" of his Antrim players after they suffered a 3-15 to 1-16 loss to Offaly in Sunday's Leinster Hurling relegation shootout in Tullamore. Having lost Niall O'Connor to a straight red card inside the opening 10 minutes, Antrim refused to wilt and retained hopes of snatching a comeback victory when James McNaughton's 65th-minute goal brought them back to within a point. But while Offaly's third goal ensured a win for Johnny Kelly's side, Fitzgerald was buoyed by what he saw from Antrim. "We were definitely the better team in the second half," Fitzgerald told GAA+. "Playing against that wind, we ran the ball well, worked the ball well. We probably had two goal chances that we needed to take. "Offaly have improved immensely and you have to give them credit, their fight and work is good." Fitzgerald also said he did not blame referee Michael Kennedy for dismissing O'Connor for what appeared to be a stamp on Offaly's Charlie Mitchell. "Anyone that knows Niall O'Connor knows he's not a dirty player," added the former Clare and Waterford boss. "It might have looked bad, I can tell you he's not a dirty player, and he said to me afterwards, 'honestly, I didn't mean to stamp' and I said, 'fair enough, it looks how it looks'. I don't blame the referee for that exact thing." After three seasons in the Leinster Championship, Antrim will return to the Joe McDonagh Cup - a competition they won in 2020 and 2022 - for the 2026 campaign. But Fitzgerald, who joined Antrim on a two-year term before this season, does not doubt his squad's ability to bounce straight back. "There will be no fear in them boys no matter what the story is," said Fitzgerald, who led Clare to the 2013 All-Ireland title. "We held ourselves in the league, we wanted to hold on, very unlucky that we didn't. He added: "They have the potential to come right back up again, but they know what they need to do, we've had a good chat about that recently. "Antrim will bounce back. They showed massive resilience today and that's very important."
The Journal
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Irish Lebanon commander: 'This has been ten times worse than anything I experienced before'
FOR THE LEADER of Irish troops in Lebanon, Israeli drone strikes and dynamic war fighting made his ninth peacekeeping deployment his most challenging yet. The last time The Journal met Lieutenant Colonel Shane Rockett was in Camp Shamrock in the hills of Lebanon as an Israeli drone buzzed overhead. Before that we met him in the Glen of Imaal as his troops prepared to deploy . Today he returned to Dublin Airport with the last group of his troops from the 125th Infantry Battalion as they completed their peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. They have now been replaced by a new battalion of Irish soldiers. The Tipperary man led the troops on what he said was the most dynamic and active trip of his career since he joined the Irish Defence Forces in 1994. As the soldiers he led embraced loved ones in the arrival hall of Terminal One he spoke about his feelings about being back on Irish soil. He speaks of the 'kinetic' atmosphere on the ground in Lebanon – a slang term soldiers use to describe a situation where they are under fire or there is a largescale bombardment. 'I'm very relieved. My main priority as a commander is to make sure we get everyone back home safe and sound, and we've done that. 'It was probably the most kinetic tour of duty I've been on in my career. And I've had nine tours of duty today. One of those was my first tour back in 1995 and 1996 during Grapes of Wrath, which was another Israeli operation in Lebanon, which was, at the time, a bad situation, but this trip was 10 times worse,' he said. Operation Grapes of Wrath was a 17 day invasion of Lebanon by Israel as they targeted Hezbollah – it was designed to stop missiles being launched into Israel from south Lebanon. Lt Col Shane Rockett at Dublin Airport today. Niall O'Connor / The Journal Niall O'Connor / The Journal / The Journal Just days before Rockett and his team handed over their mission to the 126th Infantry Battalion, Israeli troops fired on a UN post in Sector East and attempted to intimidate an Irish patrol with a targeting or range finder laser from a weapons system . 'This is part of military operations abroad. Laser activity on military operations is not something new to us. 'We've been monitoring it for the time that we've been out there. There was no threat to Irish troops at that time. We report these things as a matter of course – it's occurring daily out there, and it's something that we deal with,' he added. Advertisement Rockett had revealed in an interview during The Journal's visit to south Lebanon in March that troops were dealing with a bad reaction from the local population. It emerged that disinformation from multiple sides, but particularly from Hezbollah and Israeli sources, was causing the issue. 'You have one side, like the Israeli side saying that the UNIFIL troops are hiding or protecting Hezbollah out there, which is not the case at all. 'Then you've Hezbollah saying that we're spying on behalf of Israel. That is also not the case. The UN and UNIFIL are neutral. The Irish Defence Forces are neutral out there and we don't take sides,' he added. Rockett spoke about how his troops operated in Lebanon as they established operations as the ceasefire took hold. 'I think the Irish have a unique way of deploying as peacekeepers overseas. We bring a calmness to a situation, and the locals certainly appreciated that for the six months that we were there. 'We were able to establish our operations and work closely with the Lebanese Armed Forces to make sure that we were able to add to the safe and secure environment in the area of operations,' he added. Rockett said the operations were complicated by the amount of random shelling and bombings by Israel and the activities of Hezbollah. 'It's tense and unpredictable there and every day something is happening. 'The ceasefire is fragile, but we have to have faith in the ceasefire. We have to have faith in what comes after, which is hopefully a peaceful process where the people of Lebanon can get back to doing their normal business,' he added. The Journal / YouTube One of the peacekeepers arriving back through Dublin Airport today was Company Sergeant John Rooney who is the uncle of Private Seán Rooney who was murdered in a Hezbollah controlled area while deployed in Lebanon in December 2022. Today, as he was surrounded by his family, John said: 'I wanted to go over there and make my family proud and I wanted to make him [Seán] proud. 'Seán always looked up to me and I know he is looking down and he is proud of me and I am proud of him.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
