Irish military forces raided the Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier M/V Matthew on 26th September and discovered a huge quantity of drugs.
The Irish Defence Forces said that the ship had been tracked for several days after traveling from South America.
Because the crew of the Matthew refused to halt to be boarded as the interdiction started, navy personnel had to fire warning shots.
The vessel appeared to have its rudder hard over to port and the engine at full ahead as an Air Corps helicopter worked to hold position over the bow.
As informed, members of the Irish Navy, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, and Revenue’s Customs Service were brought onboard after an Army boarding team fast-roped down from the helicopter. The ship was apprehended and transported to the port of Cork.
As explained, three men aged 60, 50 and 31 were arrested during the operation on suspicion of organized crime offenses, and they are currently detained in Wexford.
Irish authorities believe that the Matthew was involved in a scheme to ship cocaine across the Atlantic and transfer the drugs to smaller vessels. A significant quantity of suspected drugs were located onboard the ship.
