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Updated 25 September, 8.12am
NAVAL OFFICERS HAVE seized €80 million worth of cocaine off the Cork coast.
The seizure was made yesterday on a yacht near the Cork shoreline. It is not yet known if the yacht was due to meet another vessel to bring it ashore.
Three men, believed to be British nationals, were arrested in the operation, which saw the Naval Service, Gardaí and Customs officers collaborate. The yacht was brought into Cork harbour.
An armed Naval team from the LE Róisín boarded the boat, with the LE Niamh in the area for support.
It is believed that the drugs have a street value of between €70 million and €80 million, but tests are still to be carried out.
The Inter Agency operation was conducted using two naval vessels and interagency personnel, in challenging conditions between 200 and 300 miles West South West of Mizen Head.
After Naval Service personnel secured the vessel, members of An Garda Síochána and Revenue’s Customs Service were transferred to the yacht and conducted a search of the vessel, which is currently under escort by Naval vessels.
The operation was based on intelligence provided by the National Crime Agency in the UK and the French customs service DNRED via the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics (MAOC (N)) based in Lisbon.
MAOC-N is an initiative by 7 EU Member Countries: France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal and the UK, with financial support from the Prevention against Crime Programme of the European Union, European Commission – Directorate – General Home Affairs. The Centre provides a forum for multi-lateral cooperation to suppress illicit drug trafficking by sea and air.
Success
Minister for Defence Simon Coveney said:
The success of this operation once again brings into focus the importance of the role of the Joint Task Force on Drug Interdiction in combating drug trafficking. In particular, I wish to acknowledge the huge contribution to the success of this operation made by the members of the Naval Service, An Garda Síochána and the Revenue Customs Service.
He congratulated the Naval Service and, in particular, 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.
First published 5.54pm, 24 September
Shocker beauty pageant contestant wants world peace!
She’s a supporter of Falun Gong. Tens of thousands of Falun Gong supporters have been killed since the nineties. Many have even had their organs taken for transplant, some have even been required to become living organ donors. The whole situation is appalling. Anyone who can publicise this or embarrass the Chinese government into stopping this oppression deserves some respect.
If Miss World Pageant means what they say, they should move the event to another country which is not China and publicly condemn China’s attitude. This is their golden chance to put their money where their mouth is and prove that Miss World is not about the stereotype of some brainless bimbo saying that she wants world peace.
Women have far to much to say nowadays
Very chauvinistic statement about the weaker sex Jiminy.
We should definitely start lecturing China on human. They need to become as peaceful stable as Europe
In fairness though, picking on a member of the Falun Gong movement is like picking on a Hari Krishna. As far a spiritual practices go it’s fairly harmless. The Chinese government dislike it purely because it offers “enlightenment” through oneself and not as part of a , government controlled, collective. They’re OK with religions that have a centralized power as it’s easy to influence a small few leaders and let their influence trickle down. The more complex the belief system the better. It’s almost impossible to influence individuals practicing very simple beliefs.
Ms World candidate? I hope she has a great personality
She should say me so sowwy.
Fail.
W.O.C Oh you such a eejit, ohh you fail, you fail big time.
People still say fail? Ha gay.
Ha people still say gay? FAIL
I’m confused, why does she need a visa in the first place if she’s from China?
She moved to Canada when she was 13. If she acquired Canadian citizenship then according to Chinese government rules, she automatically forfeits her Chinese citizenship.
It’s not automatic. If you are entitled to another citizenship you can choose when you turn 18. Like a lot of Asian countries, China doesn’t allow dual citizenship.
Organisers don’t have the balls to pull out of China. Disgraceful that they will consider it even with this kind of intimidation going on.
Hen piaoliang de guniang.
Vive le Canada
Hai xing :/
She can stay with me if she can’t get back in
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