A raid on the Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier Matthew early last week uncovered 2 253 kg of cocaine, valued at $166 million.
The Irish Defence Forces conducted the raid after tracking the vessel – which was sailing from South America – for several days. The Irish Navy patrol vessel LÉ William Butler Yeats fired warning shots in the ship’s direction before forces stormed the ship by helicopter, apparently as the vessel tried to evade authorities, according to a report by gCaptain.
The event has received extensive media coverage, with the BBC reporting that police have arrested three people. According to the Daily Mail, investigators believe the Matthew may have been used as a “mother ship” to transport cocaine to Ireland. Once off the coast, the vessel would transfer the drugs to smaller boats which would then smuggle them into Europe.
