Minister praises cocaine-haul team

Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Dermot Earley has joined Defence Minister Willie O'Dea in praising those involved in the successful operation to seize a record haul of cocaine off the Irish coast.

“They boarded that yacht in horrendous weather conditions,” Mr O’Dea said. “The navy service performed outstandingly as part, of course, of a joint operation involving gardaí and customs.”

It is understood satellites and intelligence from US authorities was used as the yacht was tracked to the site of the sting.

The three arrested men can be questioned for seven days under anti-drugs laws.

“The Irish coastline which was very, very attractive... with these little inlets and the length of the Irish coastline, it was very attractive to bring drugs in,” Mr O’Dea said. “It’s less attractive now.

“I think it will be a salutary lesson to people who think they can easily get drugs in here and there’s absolutely no risk whatsoever, as was the case for too long.”

Lt Gen Earley added: “The men and women of LE Niamh played a crucial role in the apprehension of these personnel.

“Armed boarding parties, travelling in rigid inflatables from the ship, boarded the yacht at night, some 150 nautical miles from the coast.

“The sharp end of this operation will grab headlines, however, it is also an occasion to point to the excellent co-operation at Joint Task Force level between the Naval Service, An Garda Siochana and the Customs Service.”