An Garda Síochána announced this morning, Tuesday, July 1, that a joint task force drugs interdiction operation was ongoing in the Courtmacsherry area of Co Cork.
On Tuesday morning, Gardaí from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau stopped a van in the Courtmacsherry area of Co Cork, and a large quantity of suspected cocaine was recovered.
The seizure was made as a result of a Joint Task Force operation comprising members of An Garda Síochána, Revenue’s Customs Service, the Irish Naval Service, and the Irish Air Corps.
Gardaí said in an update later on Tuesday that cocaine valued in excess of €31 million (subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland) was seized by Revenue Customs Service.
Gardaí said two males, aged in their 30s and 40s, were arrested while travelling in the van and remain detained in a Garda Station in Co Cork under Section 50 Criminal Justice Act 2007.
Gardaí further said in their update on Tuesday that a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) with two males on board departed from Broadstrand, Courtmacsherry.
The Irish Naval ship L.É. William Butler Yeats, on patrol in the area as part of the Joint Task Force operation, responded, supported by a Maritime patrol aircraft from the Irish Air Corps, which provided overhead surveillance during the operation.
Two Naval Service RIBs, with members of the ship's armed Maritime Interdiction Team, were launched from L.É. William Butler Yeats and intercepted the suspect RIB off the coast of Cork.
The suspect RIB was detained by Revenue Customs Service, and the two males were taken on board the L.É. William Butler Yeats.
The L.É. William Butler Yeats returned to Haulbowline Naval Base, and both males - also aged in their 30s and 40s - have been arrested by Gardaí and are currently detained in a Garda Station in Co. Cork under Section 50 Criminal Justice Act 2007.
Ireland's Tánaiste and Minister for Defence and Foreign Affairs, Trade, Simon Harris, said on Tuesday that he had been briefed on the situation.
I have received an update by the Chief of Staff of the @defenceforces on today’s significant joint-agency operation in Cork.
I want to commend members of @GardaTraffic, @defenceforces @naval_service & @RevenueIE for their close collaboration in securing a successful outcome. pic.twitter.com/u3pilhW0r3
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) July 1, 2025
In a statement, West Cork Fine Gael Senator Noel O’Donovan, a former member of An Garda Síochána, said the major security operation off the coast of West Cork involved suspected individuals attempting to flee from the patrolling navy in a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (PHIB).
O'Donovan said: “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 its further transportation.
“This is a significant detection – the biggest drug bust in the country this year.
“In West Cork, we are well aware how narcotics can be smuggled into this country and the European continent.
“All involved in this operation – An Garda Síochána, Naval Service, Air Corps – have worked extremely well together and shown their capabilities in taking on evil criminal gangs and international drug smugglers.
"This capture highlights again the increased need for further Garda resources in West Cork – more Gardaí 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."
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