TWO MORE MEN have been arrested onboard a cargo vessel at anchor on the Shannon Estuary in relation to an alleged international drug trafficking scheme off the coast of Kerry.

Five men have already been arrested and have appeared before the District Court charged in relation to the investigation.

As revealed during the week, gardaí believe that a load of drugs is somewhere off the coast of Kerry as a rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) sent out to collect it couldn’t find the shipment. The drugs are suspected to have been dropped in the sea from a cargo ship. 

On Wednesday, gardaí along with Revenue Customs Service investigators boarded a ship and carried out a search. The ship is inside the estuary near Loop Head and Carrigaholt. One man was arrested.

Another two men were arrested this morning. A Garda spokesperson said in a statement:

“As result of a joint operation conducted by the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau and Revenue Customs Service, two men were arrested on board a cargo vessel at anchor in the Shannon Estuary today, 18th January 2025.

The men, aged in their 30s and 40s, were arrested on suspicion of committing a criminal offence contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, facilitating/enhancing a criminal organisation to commit a serious offence.

The two men are currently detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at Garda stations in Co. Clare.

With reporting from Niall O’Connor