Army Ranger Wing's €157m drugs seizure on MV Matthew put us on map

Irish law enforcement standing soared after op, Browne says State has means to tackle cartels

- MICHAEL O'TOOLE Crime and Defence Editor

A VETERAN Garda detective believes the Army Ranger Wing team's raid on the drug ship MV Matthew had a huge effect on Ireland's standing in South America.

The elite military unit fast-roped onto the vessel from an Air Corps helicopter off the south coast to discover a shipment of cocaine worth an estimated €157million - the biggest in Irish history.

Retired detective inspector Noel Browne said the operation in September 2023 put Ireland's law enforcement on the map.

He added: “One of the big outcomes on behalf of Ireland Inc from the MV Matthew seizure...was that we stepped up to the plate.

“The bravery of the people in the Army Ranger Wing that boarded that ship, that is outstanding work.

“That did not go unnoticed in Latin America. I for one would make sure that various people would see that if Ireland is put to the test here, we can respond to a situation like that.

“We have the personnel, we have the different sections of the State forces - Army, Customs, Navy and Gardai willing to step up to the plate and deliver a result.

“You have huge credibility in terms of future operations.

“Down there, you have to show that you have got credibility. They don't have time really to be messing around. The challenges are so big in those countries.

“That was a huge result. There is lots of work still ongoing in relation to that but that was fantastic work by the Irish agencies and well recognised.

“If Ireland wasn't on the map...they are certainly on the map after that.

“It is not unusual for [Colombia] but what would be unusual for them was to see it happen up in Irish waters.

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“These people are very, very experienced investigators.

“They have a lot of challenges that we don't. So they don't suffer fools gladly.”