Irish police have said that the recent discovery of over two tonnes of cocaine off the coast of Ireland is the biggest drugs capture in the country’s history.
Officials found 2,253kg of drugs after they took control of a ship called MV Matthew, which is registered in Panama, and kept it to investigate on Tuesday.
Officials said the cocaine was worth around €157m (£136m) when sold on the streets.
Garda Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly said that a dangerous South American cartel group provided the drug.
The top soldiers from the Army Ranger Wing attacked the boat with help from the Navy, Air Force, Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, and customs officers.
Mr Kelly said it was a very important and widespread operation involving several countries, including the United States, UK, France, and Portugal, working together to fight drug trafficking.
He said the drugs were going to Ireland and other parts of Europe.
Three older men, aged 60, 50, and 31, were taken into custody as part of the operation.
The boat had around 25 people working on it and the police said that more people might be arrested and they will continue searching.
A big group of different agencies worked together after they received a warning that a fishing boat got stuck on the east coast on Sunday night.
The boat asked for help, so different groups like the Irish Naval Service, police, a lifeboat crew, and a Coast Guard helicopter came to assist.
Two men were rescued and brought to safety from the sinking ship.
It is stuck on a sandy area near the coast of Rosslare in County Wexford, which is in the south of Ireland.
Irish TV station RTÉ shared that a rescue mission turned into a big security operation.
The Irish Defence Forces asked for help and sent a ship, two helicopters, and two planes.
The Irish authorities had been following MV Matthew for a few days.
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Largest Irish narcotics haul ever discovered following ship raid
