Cormac O'Keeffe: Production — and seizures — of cocaine continue to reach record levels

Events in Castletownbere highlight once again, the scale of the cocaine trade traversing the Atlantic

The Matthew cargo ship which was boarded by Army Rangers, Gardaí and the Naval Service passing Roches Point as it comes in to Cork Harbour. Picture: Dan Linehan

It’s almost 15 years ago since Castletownbere was at the centre of one of the country’s biggest ever cocaine hauls.

The Dances with Waves yacht was escorted under armed guard into the fishing port and its 74 canvas-wrapped bales of cocaine, weighing 1.5 tonnes, were put on display.