'Ireland needs military-grade drones to fend off bombardment of drugs by cocaine cartels' 

The MV Matthew being boarded by Army Rangers in September 2023. The 2.25 tonnes of cocaine seized on board had an estimated value of more than €157m.

Ireland needs to invest in military-grade drones to combat the “bombardment” of Ireland by cocaine cartels, security sources have told the Irish Examiner.

Experienced investigators and officers said that, while these sophisticated high-tech drones are expensive, they are “needed now”, such is the depleted state of Irish naval and air assets and the constant supply of cocaine over the Atlantic.