PlayCocaine worth £572m found on yacht
Published: Friday, 7 November 2008, 9:33AM
A luxury yacht packed with around £572 million of cocaine has been seized off the Irish coast.
The Dances With Waves yacht was towed ashore under armed guard and has been handed to customs officers for examination.
Defence Minister Willie O'Dea said: "The Irish coastline which was very, very attractive... with these little inlets and the length of the Irish coastline, it was very attractive to bring drugs in.
"It's less attractive now.
"I think it will be a salutary lesson to people who think they can easily get drugs in here and there's absolutely no risk whatsoever, as was the case for too long."
Drugs squad officers are to question three men arrested after the armed authorities stormed the 60ft cruiser in international waters 150 miles off south-west Cork.
The two Britons, and one man originally from Dublin, were brought ashore.
It is understood the yacht was packed with at least 70 bales of cocaine each weighing around 25 kilos.
Depending on purity it could be worth as much as £572 million.
It is understood satellites and intelligence from US authorities was used as the yacht was tracked to the site of the sting.
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