Navy to use more drones after catching smuggler pretending to be refugee

The Naval Service is set to expand its use of drones after their first deployment on an operational mission proved an outstanding success, capturing critical footage of a people smuggler changing his clothes to blend in with migrants.

The LÉ Eithne, which returns to Haulbowline at the weekend, became the first navy ship to use drone technology during its deployment on humanitarian rescue missions in the Mediterranean Sea.

Naval Service sources have disclosed they want to develop a special section for the use of remotely piloted air systems which will use drones to spy on potential drugs and arms smugglers, illegal fishing and identifying pollution at sea.