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Cocaine worth an estimated €80million has been seized in a yacht off the west Cork coast.

The drugs were discovered by gardai, naval officers and customs officials as part of a joint operation on Tuesday morning.

You can follow the story as it developed with our blog right here.

Our crime editor Cathal McMahon reports:

Three English men, who were on board the vessel, have been detained and were escorted into Cork on Wednesday night.

It has also been reported that a man has been arrested in the West Yorkshire area of the UK for questioning about the drugs haul.

Authorities began to track the yacht, called the Makayabella, in the Atlantic on Sunday.

Armed boarding parties from the LE Niamh supported by the LE Roisin approached the target vessel in separate inflatable ribs in the early hours of yesterday morning after it entered the Irish economic zone - approximately 200 miles off the Mizen Head on the Cork coast.

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Carrying a variety of weaponry and wearing bullet-proof armour the skilled officers ordered the occupants off the boat.

It is understood that no resistance was put up by the suspects who had been at sea for a number of days.

Sources have told the Irish Mirror that officers discovered 40 bales of cocaine on board the vessel - worth an estimated €80million.

The yacht was being escorted to Haulbowline Naval ship yard in Ringaskiddy, Cork and docked at around 11pm on Wednesday evening.

(Image: Defence Forces)

At that point the three suspects were handed over to gardai and formally arrested.

The Naval boarding team that carried out the raid on Tuesday morning were armed with USP 9mm pistols and Steyr AUG 5.56mm assault rifles.

The teams approached the vessel under cover of darkness and were wearing night vision goggles.

Because of the nature of the operation the team wore individual protective gear including kevlar helmets and vests.

A Defence Forces source said: “Thankfully the naval officers didn’t need to use their weapons but they would take no chances in an operation like this.”

The officers are highly trained and undergo ongoing rigorous training to ensure that they are physically and mentally ready for all circumstances.

‘Top Cover’ was provided to the navy by the Air Corp’s CASA-235 on Tuesday and Wednesday.

This eye in the sky provided crucial support to the teams in the ocean, as seen in our video above.

Sources have described the seizure as a “massive blow” to drug traffickers.

It is believed that the vessel departed from Venezuela and it is thought it was destined for the UK.

(Image: Defence Forces)

Liam Peakin, Head of Customs Drugs Law Enforcement, said it was very difficult to put a value on the seizure without first seeing it.

“It certainly is a significant seizure. It’s of commercial quantities. And on inspection so far we expect the quantity to be in excess of a metric tonne.

“If it is a metric tonne, and perhaps it could be more, we are looking at a value probably around €75million.”

Mr Peakin said they have the resources to tackle drug dealers.

“This is a joint task force operation which comprises Ireland’s Revenue Service, our Naval service and Garda Siochana.

“It was an international intelligence led operation. Agencies outside of Ireland were also involved. We certainly have the resources and we have the powers to exercise those.”

The Makayabella yacht is a 65 foot Naval Chantier aluminium sloop, which was completely refitted in 2001.

It contains a dining table with enough room to seat 10, diving equipment on board for at least eight guests, a telephone, computer and e-mail, a CD player, tape deck and radio, a TV, DVD player and much more.

Also included is fishing gear, a watermaker, a kayak, knee board, water skis, a deck shower, swim platform, board games, cabin fans and hammocks.

On board there are two twin cabins each with three foot beds and two double cabins each with 4' -6" beds. All beds are 6'6" long.

All cabins have ensuite bathrooms with shower, toilet and basin.

On completion of the raid, Defence Minister Simon Coveney congratulated the Naval Service, gardai and Revenue on their successful drug operation.

He 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.

"As Minister for Defence, I wish to congratulate the Naval Service for its pivotal role in the success of this operation and, in particular, to commend 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.

"Furthermore, this operation has once again highlighted the value of the EU Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre for Narcotics as an effective international coordination force to tackle large drug shipments by sea."

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald was briefed by Acting Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan on the operation.

She said that operations of this nature are critical in our efforts to disrupt international drug trafficking and to keep illegal drugs out of Ireland and the European Union.

The Minister praised the work of all the members of the Joint Drugs Task Force involved and spoke of the high level of cooperation that exists between the law enforcement agencies in this jurisdiction.

A statement from the Department this evening read: "This latest operation reflects the investments made by the members of the Joint Drugs Task Force in building strong and strategic partnerships at national and international level, including those formed as part of Ireland's participation in the Maritime Operations Analysis Centre (Narcotics) in Lisbon."

It is not the first significant drugs seizure off the Cork coast.

Operation Cayman was put in place in July 2007 when a dinghy capsized in Dunlough Bay, near Mizen Head.

Three men had attempted to smuggle €440m of cocaine into the remote coastline but their rigid inflatable boat carrying 1.5 tonnes of the drug got into trouble after a petrol engine was filled with diesel, causing it to sink.

The second, Operation Seabight, which took place between November 2 and November 12, 2008, culminated in the navy boarding the yacht Dances With Waves 132 miles off Mizen Head. The craft contained 1.5tonnes of cocaine worth €170million.

Crew members Philip Doo and David Mufford, from Devon, and Christopher Wiggins, who had been living in the Costa del Sol, were arrested at the time of the seizure.

They pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and were each jailed for ten years at Cork Circuit Criminal Court in May 2009.

Mastermind John Alan Brooks was jailed for 28 years in the UK for his role in the cocaine shipment.