Three arrested after Irish Army storms cargo ship

Three men have been arrested after armed forces stormed a cargo ship off the Irish coast, An Garda Síochána (Irish police) have said.

A “significant quantity” of controlled drugs were found onboard.

Naval officers fired warning shots after the Panamanian registered ship failed to stop.

The men, aged 60, 50 and 31, were arrested on suspicion of organised crime offences and are in custody in County Wexford.

It is suspected the ship, named MV Matthew, is involved in trafficking cocaine.

Irish Army Rangers, Naval and Air Corps, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and customs officers were involved in the operation.

Irish Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lt Gen Sean Clancy commended their “courage, discipline and professionalism”.

The container ship will be impounded and subjected to a detailed examination by police and customs officers.

Crowds of people lined the walls of Cobh harbour as the vessel was transported to a naval base on Haulbowline in County Cork.

Soldiers from the Ranger Wing were seen on board alongside the ship’s crew members and other Defence Forces personnel.

source

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