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Irish Examiner
03-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Customs continue search on suspected mothership following €31m Cork cocaine haul
Gardaí are trying to determine how a Scottish gang behind the foiled attempt to import 440kg of cocaine into Ireland brought their fast boat into the country to collect the drugs from a mothership off Cork on Tuesday. They are also examining if the same Scottish gang was behind a successful operation earlier in the year, when between 500kg to one tonne of cocaine is suspected of being imported into the west of the country. Detectives are continuing to question four men who were arrested after the 440kg consignment landed at Broad Strand, near the coastal town of Courtmacsherry. The four — two Scottish, one English and one German — are described by as 'critical logistics' players in the importation. Meanwhile, Customs are continuing their deep search on the suspected mothership — a bulk cargo carrier coming from South America — after it docked at its scheduled stop at Cork Port to offload legitimate cargo. None of its crew have been arrested yet, which will depend, to a large degree, if any relevant evidence is found on the massive vessel — which is 200m long and 32m wide. Two of four men arrested comprised the 'maritime team' which collected the drugs from the mothership at sea and brought it to Broad Strand and loaded it into a waiting van. They were intercepted after a high-speed chase by Naval Service vessels and detained by armed members of the maritime interdiction team. The other two gang members formed the 'landing' or 'ground team' which set off in the van carrying the drugs, before they were intercepted by the emergency response unit and the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) on the way to Courtmacsherry. Prior to the operational phase, the entire activity of the gang members was being monitored by the Garda National Surveillance Unit. Gardaí have valued the 440kg haul at €31m. It is the largest seizure of cocaine since the 2.25 tonne haul on board the MV Matthew off the Cork coast in September 2023. Sources have described the Scottish gang as running a 'very smooth operation' but that they were thwarted by intelligence gathered by the DOCB, with significant assistance provided by the EU drug maritime interdiction agency MAOC-N. Investigators believe the Scottish gang 'came in direct' into Ireland on Monday, some of them through Dublin, in contrast to some importation gangs where members rent out properties in their target beach or port before the shipment. Gardaí do not yet know how this gang got their vessel into the country and have not yet identified one coming in through the ports. They are considering the possibility it might have been brought in some time ago. "Smooth operation" 'This gang ran a very smooth operation,' a security source said. 'The guys in the boat were dressed all in black, come in slow in the dead of night, low throttle. There's a van waiting, they loaded the drugs. They made it look very simple.' But the national surveillance unit, whose members are highly trained with long experience of spying on subversives, was watching the entire thing. 'They are excellent at what they do,' the source said. 'This wouldn't have happened otherwise.' The mothership, registered in Barbados, originally came from Argentina, before stopping at the Canary Islands, from where it travelled to Ireland. The foreign crew and captain remain on the vessel during the search, which began on Tuesday. Sources said it was not clear if there will be any evidence to warrant an arrest. Meanwhile, during an official visit in Japan, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Courtmacsherry seizure was not the first massive haul of cocaine, citing the MV Matthew haul. 'From what I hear anecdotally, the use and the prevalence of cocaine use has grown significantly, and that is very worrying in terms of the health of the nation and younger people in particular,' Mr Martin said. He noted that the growing use of cocaine in Ireland was being accompanied by falling consumption of alcohol in the country. Read More Taoiseach warns of cocaine 'epidemic' as drug use surges across Ireland
Irish Examiner
03-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Investigations ongoing into foiled bid to import 440kg of cocaine into country
Gardaí are trying to determine how a Scottish gang behind the foiled attempt to import 440kg of cocaine into Ireland brought their fast boat into the country to collect the drugs from a mothership off Cork on Tuesday. They are also examining if the same Scottish gang was behind a successful operation earlier in the year, when between 500kg to one tonne of cocaine is suspected of being imported into the west of the country. Detectives are continuing to question four men who were arrested after the 440kg consignment landed at Broad Strand, near the coastal town of Courtmacsherry. The four — two Scottish, one English and one German — are described by as 'critical logistics' players in the importation. Meanwhile, Customs are continuing their deep search on the suspected mothership — a bulk cargo carrier coming from South America — after it docked at its scheduled stop at Cork Port to offload legitimate cargo. None of its crew have been arrested yet, which will depend, to a large degree, if any relevant evidence is found on the massive vessel — which is 200m long and 32m wide. Two of four men arrested comprised the 'maritime team' which collected the drugs from the mothership at sea and brought it to Broad Strand and loaded it into a waiting van. They were intercepted after a high-speed chase by Naval Service vessels and detained by armed members of the maritime interdiction team. The other two gang members formed the 'landing' or 'ground team' which set off in the van carrying the drugs, before they were intercepted by the emergency response unit and the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) on the way to Courtmacsherry. Prior to the operational phase, the entire activity of the gang members was being monitored by the Garda National Surveillance Unit. Gardaí have valued the 440kg haul at €31m. It is the largest seizure of cocaine since the 2.25 tonne haul on board the MV Matthew off the Cork coast in September 2023. Sources have described the Scottish gang as running a 'very smooth operation' but that they were thwarted by intelligence gathered by the DOCB, with significant assistance provided by the EU drug maritime interdiction agency MAOC-N. Investigators believe the Scottish gang 'came in direct' into Ireland on Monday, some of them through Dublin, in contrast to some importation gangs where members rent out properties in their target beach or port before the shipment. Gardaí do not yet know how this gang got their vessel into the country and have not yet identified one coming in through the ports. They are considering the possibility it might have been brought in some time ago. "Smooth operation" 'This gang ran a very smooth operation,' a security source said. 'The guys in the boat were dressed all in black, come in slow in the dead of night, low throttle. There's a van waiting, they loaded the drugs. They made it look very simple.' But the national surveillance unit, whose members are highly trained with long experience of spying on subversives, was watching the entire thing. 'They are excellent at what they do,' the source said. 'This wouldn't have happened otherwise.' The mothership, registered in Barbados, originally came from Argentina, before stopping at the Canary Islands, from where it travelled to Ireland. The foreign crew and captain remain on the vessel during the search, which began on Tuesday. Sources said it was not clear if there will be any evidence to warrant an arrest. Meanwhile, during an official visit in Japan, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Courtmacsherry seizure was not the first massive haul of cocaine, citing the MV Matthew haul. 'From what I hear anecdotally, the use and the prevalence of cocaine use has grown significantly, and that is very worrying in terms of the health of the nation and younger people in particular,' Mr Martin said. He noted that the growing use of cocaine in Ireland was being accompanied by falling consumption of alcohol in the country. Read More Taoiseach warns of cocaine 'epidemic' as drug use surges across Ireland
Dublin Live
03-06-2025
- Dublin Live
Carlow shooter named as local man, 22, who was facing firearms charges
The man who opened fire in a Carlow shopping centre before taking his own life has been identified. Detectives are now satisfied the gunman behind the horror incident on Sunday evening was Carlow man Evan Fitzgerald. Mr Fitzgerald, 22, was due to make a court appearance on 13 firearms and explosive charges later this week. He was due to have the book of evidence in the case presented to him at Naas District Court on Wednesday – which meant he was to stand trial in front of a judge and jury later this year. He was charged under anti firearms and explosives legislation and was facing up to 14 years behind bars if he was convicted. But the case against him cannot now proceed. Mr Fitzgerald was 22 and had an address at Portrushen Upper, Kiltegan, Rathvilly, Co Carlow, close to the border with Wicklow. It is about 27 kilometres from the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow Town, where he caused panic on Sunday evening. (Image: An Garda Siochana) We have confirmed that Mr Fitzgerald was on bail on serious firearms and explosives charges when he went to Fairgreen and opened fire. Sources tell us gardai now believe he did not intend to target anyone else in the incident – which officers now think was a gruesome public suicide. "He did not shoot at anyone else and we believe he did not want to. The shots he fired were not aimed at anyone," a source told us. The steel worker – who a court previously heard had a fascination with guns – was charged over an incident at Staffan in Co Kildare last year. Detectives from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau charged Mr Fitzgerald over the incident in which officers seized a German-made Heckler and Koch G3 assault rifle and an America Colt M1911 semi automatic pistol. A court heard the guns were seized following an intelligence-led operation into alleged firearms trafficking. Gardaí, including from DOCB and The Emergency Response Unit, conducted a controlled stop on a vehicle and seized the firearms and ammunition, the court heard. (Image: An Garda Siochana) Mr Fitzgerald, who was on bail, last appeared in court on May 7 and was remanded to this coming Wednesday. He was facing 13 charges. Two were for allegedly possessing the firearms at Ponsonby Bridge, Straffan Road, Co. Kildare on March 2 last year. He also faced two separate charges of possessing 22 rounds of .45 ACP calibre ammunition and 20 rounds of .308 Winchester ammunition on the same date and location. Mr Fitzgerald was also facing a further nine charges, all also allegedly committed on March 2 last year – but this time it is alleged they were committed at Portrushen Upper, Kiltegan, Rathvilly, Co Carlow, Mr Fitzgerald was alleged to have possessed: 23 rounds of Ammunition Suitable for use in Appropriately Chambered Rifles Sixty nine shotgun cartridges Four rounds for pistol and revolvers One round of .450" Calibre Bullet suitable for use in Large Bore Centrefire Rifles One magazine suitable for use in 7.62x39mm Calibre AK-47 rifles One magazine suitable for use in Tokarev Calibre TT-33 Pistols One Magazine suitable for use in Makarov Calibre PM Pistols The explosive substance of Potassium Nitrate, Sulphur and Charcoal (Black Powder) explosive mixture The explosive substance of Ammonium Perchlorate, Potassium Perchlorate, Sulphur and Magnalium. He had not yet entered any plea in the case and no evidence was heard at the May 7 appearance. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
