Cuts to navy ‘would entice drug lords to land here’

The man who broke a code which helped jail the British gangster who organised €500m drug shipment says this county “will be in grave danger of further large importation attempts” if there are any cuts to the Naval Service.

Eugene Ryan, a former navy commander who co-ordinated the interception of the yacht Dances with Waves off the south-west coast in Nov 2008, warned that drugs lords will target Ireland if they see any weakness in the country’s ability to effectively protect its waters.

The senior officer, who retired from the navy in January, found a series of figures onboard the seized yacht which would have meant nothing to an untrained eye.

“But I was able to decipher them as co-ordinates the vessel was intending to use to import the drugs into the UK, via Anglesea on the north-west coast of Wales,” said Cmdr Ryan.

He gave vital evidence during the trial of John Alan Brooks, 61, who was sentenced to 28 years in jail on Monday for masterminding the cocaine smuggling operation, which fell apart when the navy seized the yacht.

“Based on my knowledge of the subject, I am of the opinion that this was not the first importation attempt,” said Cmdr Ryan. “I’m also of the opinion that drugs have been imported into the UK via Ireland before. Unless the Naval Service is maintained at its current minimal level [eight ships] we will face more importation attempts.

“At the moment, drugs are being harvested in Colombia and Mexico and vessels will be preparing to bring them to Europe. There are dummy runs every single year by criminals who are casing the place out and watching where the navy patrol.”

Dances with Waves was tracked from Venezuela by satellite. A few days before interception, Cmdr Ryan ordered the LÉ Niamh and LÉ Róisín to lay in wait.

Under the cover of darkness the LÉ Niamh closed in, launching armed boarding parties in two rigid inflatable boats 1.6km astern of the yacht.

The yacht was radioed of the intention to board, which took place amid force 8 gales and six-metre waves. There was no resistance.

Cmdr Ryan, who served for 40 years in the navy, said civilians involved in the Coastwatch organisation had a vital role to play in preventing drug trafficking.

“Dances with Waves was built for the Caribbean, not the Atlantic,” said Cmdr Ryan.

“Anybody who sees a yacht sailing around our coast between November and February should immediately report it to the gardaí, customs, or navy.”