Overview

• Eight defendants received prison terms ranging from 13½ to 20 years, totaling 129 years, after pleading guilty at the Special Criminal Court.
• Authorities released drone and audio recordings showing the Army Ranger Wing boarding from helicopters and the LE William Butler Yeats firing warning shots.
• The MV Matthew was intercepted off Ireland carrying more than 2.2 tonnes of cocaine loaded at sea off Venezuela, valued at about €157 million.
• Six crew members of the MV Matthew were convicted of possession for sale and two men from the support vessel Castlemore were found guilty of attempted supply.
• Investigators have now turned to tracing the shipment’s funding and launching asset forfeiture proceedings against the broader smuggling network.