A total of four men are now in Garda custody following a major cocaine seizure this morning in West Cork.
Earlier this morning Gardaí from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau stopped a van in the Courtmacsherry area of County Cork and cocaine worth 35 million euro was seized.
Two men (30s and 40s) were arrested and are currently detained in a Garda Station in Co. Cork under section 50 Criminal Justice Act 2007.
Two other men also in their 30s and 40s were arrested on board a high powered rib off the coast of Cork by members of the Naval Service.
The drugs had been transferred from a larger vessel to the rib before they were dropped off at Broad Strand near Courtmacsherry in the early hours of this morning.
The drugs gang had been under surveillance for a period of time.
The operation is supported by the Joint Task Force partners, Revenue’s Customs Service, the Irish Naval Service, and local Gardaí and the Irish Air Corps.
Justice Minister Jim O’ Callaghan said “the seizure was major and the excellent was another example of our work to to disrupt the criminal gangs involved”.
West Cork Fine Gael Senator Noel O’Donovan and former member of An Garda Síochána also commended the work of local and national units of the force as well as the Naval Service and Air Corps in the major drugs bust today.
“Early indications say this operation was under surveillance for the last number of days so that is a testament to all involved for their professionalism and success in combating the importation of drugs into this country and it’s further transportation,” Senator O’Donovan said.
‘This capture highlights again the increased need for further Garda resources in West Cork – more Gardai patrolling our rural areas prevents and deters criminal activity.
“And indeed further investment in our Naval Service and Air Corp to continue this good work and combat criminality. I will be working with all, including Tánaiste and Defence Minister Simon Harris, to progress this,” Senator O’Donovan said.
The men in custody can be questioned for up to seven days.
