 [Daily Mail, where America gets its news] This is the incredible moment commandos from Ireland's Army Ranger Wing stormed the deck of a cartel 'mother ship' off the coast of Ireland on Tuesday, after bungling subordinates led authorities to the country's biggest ever drugs bust.
In the daring operation, the assault-rifle-armed elite troops fast-roped down from a helicopter and stormed the Panamanian-registered MV Matthew cargo vessel which had refused to stop in the Atlantic, firing warning shots as they boarded.
Video of the operation shows the helicopter hovering above the 630-foot MV Matthew as the vessel makes a sharp turn in the water, with the Irish special forces abseiling down on to the ship before moving out across the deck.
Once the commandos secured the ship, members of the Irish navy and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau came aboard, where they found more than 2,250 kilogrammes (5,000lbs) of suspected cocaine worth around £136 million.
The raid came after a fishing trawler ran aground off the coast of Co Wicklow late on Sunday, which was also being monitored as part of the operation, amid suspicions it was en route to rendezvous with the cargo mother ship.
Last night, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the drugs would have 'no doubt been destined for Irish and European markets' and this 'will represent a blow to the organised-crime gangs involved in drug distribution internationally'.
Justin Kelly, from the Organised and Serious Crime Unit, said the drugs racket was being operated by 'transnational groups' that are 'working all across the world'.
The ship refused to stop when ordered to do so by the Defence Forces, leading to the elite Rangers having to board it around Tuesday lunchtime.
The multi-agency operation came just 24 hours after it emerged a trawler that was being monitored on suspicion of carrying drugs ran aground off the Wexford coast on Sunday night.
The vessel remains stuck on a sandbank out at sea with poor conditions preventing the authorities from boarding and searching it.
The MV Matthew, which was registered in Panama, is believed to be the 'mothership' – an integral part of the transfer of a multi-million euro cocaine consignment.
Once off the coast in the Atlantic, the vessel would distribute the drugs to smaller boats which would then ship them to other European countries, officials believe.
Three men across the two boats - aged 31, 50 and 60 - have been arrested on suspicion of organised crime offences, and are detained at stations in Wexford.
It has emerged that one of those arrested was medically evacuated off the MV Matthew before the military operation to seize it. About 25 remaining crew will be interviewed in Cork and police have said further arrests may follow.
The head of the Irish Defence Forces said the Army and Gardai had been working together for weeks to bring down the smuggling gang, leading to the MV Matthew being stormed by the Army Ranger Wing on Tuesday and impounded.
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