THE former Verolme Dockyard in Cobh, Co Cork, was under strict Garda security last night as preparations were being made to carry out an extensive search of the somewhat ungainly looking vessel - described as a pleasure craft - which was said to have brought the largest ever quantity of cocaine into Irish waters.
The haul, estimated by Garda sources as being worth up to £60 million, was seen in Cobh as testament to the closer co operation which now exists between the Garda, Customs and Excise and the Naval Service.
As officers and security personnel began a search of the vessel last night, no one without official permission was being allowed to enter the vicinity of the dockyard, which is located on the outskirts of Cobh.
The 60 foot boat, resembling a tourist shark fishing vessel, was berthed at the end of a jetty. It was well out of public view and in an enclosed area.
A Naval Service source said that the vessel would have, been more at home in the Mediterranean than in Cork harbour on a wet and windy day at the end of the summer.
Gardai and local security men manned the entrance to the dockyard and the only other access was by sea. The jetty was being patrolled by Special Branch officers, who could be seen across the bay through binoculars.
While it is thought that the vessel had been under surveillance as a result of international co operation between drug enforcement agencies, the seizure was acclaimed last night by security sources in Cork as a significant breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking. Senior gardai stressed that the joint operation between the Customs and Excise, the Garda and the Naval Service was the key to the successful interception of such a large drugs haul.