Major Cocaine Seizure Worth Over €31 Million in Cork Waters
Four arrested as €31m cocaine haul intercepted off Cork coast in dramatic sea chase involving Naval ship and Air Corps.
- Four men arrested as joint task force operation intercepts drugs shipment in Courtmacsherry area
A massive cocaine haul valued at more than €31 million has been seized by authorities following a coordinated sea and land operation in West Cork today, Tuesday 1st July 2025.
The Joint Task Force Drugs Interdiction Operation saw four men arrested in two separate but connected incidents around Courtmacsherry, involving multiple agencies working in coordination.
Land Operation
This morning, Gardaí from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau stopped a van in the Courtmacsherry area. Two men, aged in their 30s and 40s, were arrested and remain detained at a Garda station in County Cork under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007.
The cocaine seizure, subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland, was made by the Revenue Customs Service during the operation.
Maritime Interdiction
In a parallel operation at sea, a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) carrying two males departed from Broadstrand, Courtmacsherry. The Irish Naval ship L.É. William Butler Yeats, which was on patrol in the area as part of the Joint Task Force operation, responded immediately.
The naval vessel received support from a Maritime patrol aircraft from the Irish Air Corps, which provided crucial overhead surveillance during the operation. Two Naval Service rigid-hulled inflatable boats, crewed by members of the ship's armed Maritime Interdiction Team, were launched from L.É. William Butler Yeats.
The suspect RIB was successfully intercepted off the Cork coast and detained by Revenue Customs Service. The two males on board were taken aboard the naval vessel.
Current Status
The L.É. William Butler Yeats has returned to Haulbowline Naval Base, where both males, also aged in their 30s and 40s, were arrested by Gardaí. They are currently detained at a Garda station in County Cork under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007.
The operation demonstrates the effectiveness of multi-agency cooperation in tackling organised crime and drug trafficking through Irish waters and territory.
Further updates are expected in due course as the investigation continues.
