Ireland Male charged after joint task force operation at sea
The trawler Castlemore ran aground off the Wexford coast on 26 September 2023 with a suspected consignment of cocaine, about 8km off the coast, and a joint task force operation at sea followed, with the coastline searched for debris or cargo. Gardaí arrested several people in connection with the investigation, and the sources give no names, ages or nationalities for them. Garda update (3) said two males arrested in the investigation were expected to appear before Waterford District Court at 6:45pm on 29 September 2023 to be charged. Garda update (6), issued 1 October 2023, said a male arrested in the investigation had been charged and was expected to appear before Wexford District Court on 2 October 2023 at 10.30am, and that other arrested individuals remained in Garda custody.
- Reported26 Sep
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged1 Oct
- In court26 Sep
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The trawler Castlemore ran aground off the Wexford coast with a suspected consignment of cocaine.
- Where
- The trawler was about 8km off the coast, and the operation was a joint task force operation at sea.
- When
- The operation took place on 26 September 2023, and search activity began early on Monday morning.
- A Curracloe resident said he saw air traffic as early as 12.30am on Sunday.
- Investigation
- The State's emergency services searched on water and from the air for debris or cargo, including possible bales of drugs.
- Security services were trying to board the fishing vessel before Storm Agnes arrived.
- Gardaí appealed to landowners and walkers not to interfere with parcels or anything suspicious.
- Two males were arrested in connection with the investigation, and a male was also arrested.
- Sources differ on the number remaining in Garda custody: five other arrested individuals in update (3), and four in update (6).
- Charges
- Two males were to be charged in connection with the case, and a male has been charged.
- In court
- Two males were expected to appear before Waterford District Court at 6:45pm on Friday 29 September 2023.
- A male was expected to appear before Wexford District Court on Monday 2 October 2023 at 10.30am.
- Other details
- Garda update (3) was issued on 29 September 2023 and update (6) on 1 October 2023.
- By Tuesday afternoon the beach and coastline had returned to normal.
19 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe trawler Castlemore ran aground off the Wexford coast with a suspected consignment of cocaine. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe trawler was about 8km off the coast. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe operation was a joint task force operation at sea. (garda.ie)
- whenThe search activity began early on Monday morning. (irishtimes.com)
- whenA Curracloe resident saw air traffic from as early as 12.30am on Sunday. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe operation took place on 26 September 2023. (garda.ie)
- investigationTwo males were arrested in connection with the investigation. (garda.ie)
- investigationFive other arrested individuals remain in Garda custody. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe State's emergency services searched on water and from the air for debris or cargo, including possible bales of drugs. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí appealed to landowners and walkers not to interfere with parcels or anything suspicious. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationSecurity services were trying to board the fishing vessel before Storm Agnes arrived. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA male was arrested in connection with the investigation. (garda.ie)
- chargeThe two males are to be charged in connection with the case. (garda.ie)
- chargeThe male has been charged in connection with the case. (garda.ie)
- courtTwo males are expected to appear before Waterford District Court at 6:45pm on Friday 29 September 2023. (garda.ie)
- courtThe male is expected to appear before Wexford District Court on Monday 2 October 2023 at 10.30am. (garda.ie)
- otherThe update was issued on 29 September 2023. (garda.ie)
- otherBy Tuesday afternoon the beach and coastline had returned to normal. (irishtimes.com)
- otherFour other arrested individuals remain in Garda custody. (garda.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Oct2023Update (6) Court Appearance - Joint Task Force Co-ordinated Operation at Sea, 26th September 2023
Garda update (6) giving the court date at Wexford District Court for one charged male and noting that four other arrested people remain in custody. The article does not name the offence, the location or the people involved.
accused, male - 26 Sep2023‘An unprecedented day for the village’ - Wexford locals witness unusual air activity in drugs search
Adds the vessel name (Castlemore), its position about 8km off the coast, the air and sea search for drugs or debris, gardaí's appeal to walkers, and the attempt to board the trawler. The article reports no arrests or charges.
- 26 Sep2023Update (3) Court Appearance - Joint Task Force Co-ordinated Operation at Sea, 26th September 2023
Garda update (3) says two males arrested in the investigation are expected to appear before Waterford District Court at 6:45pm on 29 September 2023 and be charged. The five other arrested individuals remain in Garda custody. The article does not name the county or any person.
accused, maleaccused, malesuspectsuspectsuspectsuspectsuspect