07/11/2008
Investigation Into Massive Cocaine Seizure Continues
An investigation launched following the seizure of a massive haul of cocaine off the southwest coast of Ireland yesterday morning is continuing today.
A "substantial" quantity of cocaine - originally thought to be worth around £406 million, but now estimated at more than £572 million - was seized when armed authorities boarded the 60-foot yacht Dances With Waves, around 150 miles off south-west Cork.
According to reports, around 70 bales of cocaine, each weighing around 25 kilos, were found onboard the vessel and it is thought that the seizure could be confirmed as the largest ever made in Ireland.
Three men, aged between 44 and 52, were arrested and are currently in Garda custody.
According to reports, the yacht had been registered in Britain previously and at least two of the men who were arrested are reported to be British nationals.
The operation, which was codenamed Seabight, was led by the Irish Joint Task Force on Drug Interdiction (JTF), comprising of Naval, Revenue Customs and Garda Síochána resources assisted by the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre - Narcotics (MAOC-N) in Lisbon and the Serious Organised Crime Agency UK.
On Friday, work began on stripping the yacht and tests began on the cocaine in order to determine a more accurate value of the drugs.
The JTF said that it believed that the intelligence-led operation had resulted in "a significant international success in drug interdiction".
(KMcA/JM)
A "substantial" quantity of cocaine - originally thought to be worth around £406 million, but now estimated at more than £572 million - was seized when armed authorities boarded the 60-foot yacht Dances With Waves, around 150 miles off south-west Cork.
According to reports, around 70 bales of cocaine, each weighing around 25 kilos, were found onboard the vessel and it is thought that the seizure could be confirmed as the largest ever made in Ireland.
Three men, aged between 44 and 52, were arrested and are currently in Garda custody.
According to reports, the yacht had been registered in Britain previously and at least two of the men who were arrested are reported to be British nationals.
The operation, which was codenamed Seabight, was led by the Irish Joint Task Force on Drug Interdiction (JTF), comprising of Naval, Revenue Customs and Garda Síochána resources assisted by the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre - Narcotics (MAOC-N) in Lisbon and the Serious Organised Crime Agency UK.
On Friday, work began on stripping the yacht and tests began on the cocaine in order to determine a more accurate value of the drugs.
The JTF said that it believed that the intelligence-led operation had resulted in "a significant international success in drug interdiction".
(KMcA/JM)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.