250 personnel involved in massive operation

MORE than 250 people were involved in the joint operation which led to the biggest seizure of drugs in the history of the state.

The Naval Service had by far the largest involvement, with around 140 personnel.

The navy’s intelligence operation was led by Commander Eugene Ryan, who, with around 12 land-based staff, coordinated the seizure of the Dances with Waves yacht 240km off the Cork coast.

The LÉ Niamh, with a complement of 44 sailors, shadowed the yacht until launching RIBs (rigid inflatable boats) containing a 10-strong, heavily armed boarding party.

They approached the yacht in “blackout mode” during six metre high waves and strong gales before going aboard and detaining the crew of three, who put up no resistance.

The boarding took place during the early hours of last Thursday morning and the LÉ Niamh brought the detained men back to Castletownbere where they were handed over to gardaí at around 7.00pm.

Her sister ship, the LÉ Róisín, again with a 44-strong crew, acted as back-up for the operation.

Meanwhile, the LÉ Orla, with a crew of 42, dropped off four personnel who sailed the yacht back into Castletownbere, where it was yesterday being forensically examined by gardaí and customs officials.

While the Dances With Waves had been under surveillance for more than a month, it wasn’t until last Tuesday that the navy’s seaborne operation began.

The Revenue’s Customs service operation, led by Brian Smith, had around 40 officers working on the case, with one attached to the Lisbon-based Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre, Narcotics (MAOC-N).

When the ship left Trinidad in early October she was monitored by US satellites, as she had been classed as “suspicious”.

Once out of Caribbean waters MAOC-N closely tracked the route of 60ft (18 metre) yacht.

Customs officers based here were, meanwhile, working closely with the navy and gardaí plotting where they would strike.

They were also liaising with members of the Serious Organised Crime Agency based in Britain.

It is believed the cocaine had originated in Colombia and was destined for the European markets.

The navy provided armed guards as the drugs were brought ashore.

Heavily-armed gardaí were also posted in Castletownbere and accompanied the drugs as they were transported to garda headquarters in Dublin.

There forensic analysts will assess the cocaine’s purity — believed to be as high as 80%.

The potential street value of the haul could be up to €750 million.

The navy will now provide detailed statements to gardaí in the event that they are needed for prosecution purposes.