Shock in West Cork at major drugs haul as four men remain in custody

The West Cork community of Courtmacsherry was “shocked and surprised” as a joint task force involving gardaí, the Defence Forces, and Revenue personnel mounted a major operation in the area in the early hours of yesterday morning, leading to the seizure of a large quantity of illegal drugs with an estimated value in excess of €31m.

The Independent Ireland councillor for the Skibbereen municipality, Daniel Sexton, expressed concern that smugglers could be able to take advantage of the region’s exposed coastline to land drugs “wholesale” on beaches or the many coves and ports along the shoreline.

“I think there’s a lot more coming in all over,” he told The Echo, pointing to a major drug seizure in Leap and Tragumna last year that led to the discovery of what was estimated to be around €58m worth of drugs.

“There will be more of it,” he said. “It’s a rugged coastline and there’s lots of small ports, and some of them [are] fairly isolated.”

Four men have been arrested in connection with yesterday’s drugs seizure, and a garda spokesperson told The Echo this morning: "The four men remain in Garda custody at this time."

Gardaí intercepted a van in the Courtmacsherry area in the early hours of yesterday morning. There were two men in the vehicle that was searched as part of the garda operation.

A large quantity of cocaine was found in the van, believed to be in the region of half a tonne. The estimated value of this narcotic on the market is in excess of €31m, but is subject to further analysis by Forensic Science Ireland.

The men aged in their 30s and 40s were arrested at the scene, and were last night being detained in a garda station in Cork under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. This means they can be held for seven days.

Meanwhile, according to a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána, a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) with two men on board departed Broadstrand in Courtmacsherry and the LÉ William Butler Yeats, which was on patrol in the area as part of the joint task force operation, responded with support from a maritime patrol aircraft from the air corps.

This aircraft provided overhead surveillance during the operation as two Irish naval service rigid inflatable boats, with members of the ship’s maritime interdiction team, were launched from the LÉ William Butler Yeats.

These craft intercepted the suspect rigid inflatable boat off the coast of Cork.

“The suspect RIB was detained by Revenue customs service and the two males were taken on board the LÉ William Butler Yeats,” the garda spokesperson said.

“The LÉ William Butler Yeats returned to Haulbowline Naval Base, and both males [also aged in their 30s and 40s] have been arrested by gardaí and are currently detained in a garda station in Co Cork under Section 50 Criminal Justice Act 2007.”

Tánaiste and defence minister Simon Harris has commended those involved in the operation which led to the seizure.

Mr Harris posted a message of congratulations on his social media platforms after receiving an update on the joint agency operation.

“I want to commend members of the gardaí, the Defence Forces, the naval service, and Revenue for their close collaboration in securing a successful outcome,” he said.

West Cork Fine Gael senator Noel O’Donovan also commended the work of the agencies involved.

“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 into this country and its further transportation,” he added.

“This is a significant detection — the biggest drug bust in the country this year.

“In West Cork, we are well aware how narcotics can be smuggled into this country and the European continent.

“All involved in this operation — An Garda Síochána, naval service, air corps — have worked extremely well together and shown their capabilities in taking on evil criminal gangs and international drug smugglers.

“‘This capture highlights again the increased need for further garda resources in West Cork — more gardaí patrolling our rural areas prevents and deters criminal activity.”