Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 20042Drugs offence (cocaine importation) · Co. Donegal

Boat impounded in cocaine probe on Donegal coast

About 60kg of cocaine, valued at more than €4 million, washed up on beaches in Fanad, Donegal, at Ballyheirnan and Tramore. The reports say the drugs were found 'last month' and 'on Wednesday', and the article was published on 15 August 2023. A large search followed and a boat was impounded at Magheroarty; gardaí said it was being used by people without seafaring experience, and no arrests, charges or suspects have been reported. The latest development is a fresh garda appeal to coastal communities and islands to be alert for unusual activity, as gardaí believe more packages could be found along the coast.

  1. Reported15 Aug
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • About 60kg of cocaine, valued at more than €4 million, was found off the Donegal coast.
  • The packages were wrapped in black plastic and bound with ropes.
Where
The packages washed up at Ballyheirnan Beach and Tramore Beach in Fanad, Donegal.
When
The reports say the drugs were found 'last month' and 'on Wednesday', so the exact date is unclear; the article was published on 15 August 2023.
Investigation
  • A large search operation followed, and a boat was impounded at Magheroarty.
  • Gardaí believe more packages could be found along the coast.
  • Gardaí issued a fresh appeal to people in coastal communities and islands to be alert for unusual activity.
Other details
  • The impounded boat was a Cleopatra 38 that was understood to have been advertised for sale recently.
  • Gardaí said the impounded boat was being used by people without seafaring experience.
  • The boat's radar does not appear to have been operating in the weeks before the drugs were found.
Charges
No arrests, charges or named suspects have been reported in the sources.
8 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAbout 60kg of cocaine, valued at more than €4 million, was found off the Donegal coast. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe packages washed up at Ballyheirnan Beach and Tramore Beach in Fanad. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationA large search operation followed and a fishing vessel was impounded at Magheroarty. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí believe more packages could be found along the coast. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí issued a fresh appeal to people in coastal communities and islands to be alert for unusual activity. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe impounded boat was a Cleopatra 38 that was understood to have been advertised for sale recently. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherGardaí said the impounded boat was being used by people without seafaring experience. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe boat's radar does not appear to have been operating in the weeks before the drugs were found. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Aug2023
    Reporteddonegallive.ie, first report
    Boat impounded in €4.2m cocaine probe used by 'inexperienced seafarers'

    Reports the discovery of about 60kg of cocaine on Fanad beaches, the impounding of a boat at Magheroarty, and a garda appeal to coastal communities. No arrests, charges or suspects are named. The article says the drugs were found 'last month' and also 'on Wednesday', so the date is left empty.