A foreign vessel was being monitored by the National Drugs Task Force in Galway Bay last night following its rescue by the Galway Bay Lifeboat off the Aran Islands.
The vessel, which stated its port of origin as Kingstown, Jamaica, had developed engine difficulties in the North Sound off the Aran Islands during gale force winds early yesterday evening.
No mayday was issued but the lifeboat put to sea and it is understood that it initially had difficulty in persuading the crew to accept assistance.
The vessel was towed into Kilronan Harbour. It is understood that it had been under surveillance over the past three days during a passage south and customs teams along the west coast had been alerted. The Naval patrol ship LE Eithne was also in the area last night.