Cocaine yacht Makayabella to be sold off by State

A luxury yacht which was seized last September carrying €80m of cocaine is to be auctioned off by the State.

The Makayabella was intercepted by the LÉ Niamh 250km off the south-west coast last September and escorted to Haulbowline, Co Cork. Back at base, 41 bales of the class A drug were unloaded from the vessel. News of the auction comes days after the latest arrest was made in connection with the drug-smuggling operation, which was organised by a British gang.

A 30-year-old man was arrested by officers from the National Crime Agency at his home in west Yorkshire last Tuesday and charged with conspiring to import the drugs. He is due before Leeds Crown Court on July 15.