New €1.6m vessel boosts custom officers’ fight against drugs

CUSTOMS officers are to have their armoury bolstered in the battle against the drugs trade with the addition of a €1.6 million vessel which will be used to patrol the coast.

The RCC Suirbhéir, which earlier this week underwent sea trials, is due to be formally commissioned on June 28 and will be stationed in Cork.

The 21 metre-long cutter, similar to ones used off the Florida coast by the US Coastguard, was built in Finland and has a range of up to 500 miles.