Four men have been arrested in connection with the seizure of drugs worth over €31 million in Co Cork.
A quantity of suspected cocaine was found after a van was stopped in the Courtmacsherry area this morning.
Two men, aged in their 30s and 40s, were arrested and are being detained at a garda station in Co Cork.
Two other men, also aged in their 30s and 40s, were arrested by gardaí after being detained at sea on a boat off the Co Cork coast.
The two men departed from Broad Strand in Courtmacsherry on a rigid inflatable boat, gardaí said.
The Irish naval ship LÉ William Butler Yeats responded with support from a maritime patrol aircraft from the Irish Air Corps.
Two Naval Service rigid-hulled inflatable boats were launched from the LÉ William Butler Yeats which intercepted the suspect boat.
The two men were then taken on board the LÉ William Butler Yeats after Revenue detained the suspect boat.
They were arrested by gardaí after the Irish naval vessel returned them to Haulbowline Naval Base.
Investigations are ongoing.
Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan commended the "excellent cooperation" between gardaí, the Defence Forces and Revenue in the operation.
Another major cocaine seizure worth up to €35m by @GardaInfo this morning. Excellent cooperation involving Gardaí, @defenceforces and Revenue, and another example of our work to disrupt the criminal gangs involved.
— Jim O'Callaghan TD (@OCallaghanJim) July 1, 2025
Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris said he has been briefed on today's operation by the Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy.
Mr Harris said today's seizure in Cork is a "real example of what can be achieved" when agencies work together.
Speaking to media at an event in Iveagh House in Dublin the Minister for Defence said: "I welcome the really good work done by a number of emergency agencies off the coast of Cork, including, of course, An Garda Síochána, Revenue and from our own perspective in the Department of Defense, the Naval Service and the Air Corps.
"It's a real example of what can be achieved when these agencies are working together, seizing around €35 million worth of cocaine off the coast of Cork.
"So I want to congratulate everybody involved and we need to continue to see that joint effort."
