Taskforce had been asked to intercept yacht in Irish waters

Although the seizure by the Naval Service, Garda and Customs of an estimated €80 million of cocaine off the southwest coast yesterday followed intelligence from a European anti-drug trafficking organisation, Irish Customs officials had already become suspicious.

The Maritime Analysis Operations Centre – Narcotics had requested the Irish authorities to dispatch a joint task force on drug interdiction team to intercept the Makayabella as the yacht prepared to enter the Irish Sea.

However, Irish Customs officials were already suspicious that a major drugs shipment was expected to pass through the Irish Sea after they spotted what they believed was a coopering vessel in a port off the southeast coast last week.

Coopering involves drugs-smuggling gangs using a small local boat to rendezvous with the drugs-carrying boat well offshore where the drugs are transferred and the familiar local boat then brings the drugs ashore. Because it is familiar to locals, it is likely to arouse fewer suspicions.

Customs officers became suspicious when a boat crewed by some eastern Europeans put into port along the south coast last week after experiencing fuel difficulties. They logged details of the vessel.

It is believed the gang planned to bring the drugs ashore in north Wales.

Officers from the National Crime Agency in Britain were last night searching for a number of men suspected of involvement in the operation.

Further details on the successful seizure of the drugs are expected to emerge today when the Naval Service, Garda and Customs will hold a joint press briefing at the Naval Service Headquarters in Haulbowline.

Both Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald and Minister for Defence Simon Coveney last night congratulated the three agencies on their success in foiling the international drugs-smuggling operation and seizing such a large quantity of cocaine

Ms Fitzgerald said she had been briefed on the operation by Acting Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan. She paid tribute to all those from the joint taskforce who were involved in the successful operation, as well the international agencies also involved.

“Operations of this nature are critical to our efforts to disrupt international drug trafficking and to keep illegal drugs out of Ireland and the European Union,” said Ms Fitzgerald, also noting the role played by the Maritime Analysis Operations Centre in Lisbon.

Mr Coveney said the success of this operation once again brought into focus the importance of the role of the joint taskforce on drug interdiction in combating drug trafficking as he congratulated all three agencies of the success of the mission.

"As Minister for Defence, I wish to congratulate the Naval Service for its pivotal role in the success of this operation and, in particular, to commend the officers commanding LÉ Niamh and LÉ Róisín and their respective crews.

“I also wish to acknowledge the role of the Air Corps in providing top cover support during the operation,” Mr Coveney said. He also paid tribute to the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre Narcotics for its work in co-ordinating the combating of drugs smuggling.