Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to say to the Leader that we should send our best wishes to the Naval Service, the Customs and Excise and the Garda Síochána for boarding the yacht Makayabellaoff the Cork coast yesterday. The yacht was en route from Venezuela, via Columbia, with drugs. It was a major seizure and we must commend all the brave naval personnel who were present to intercept the yacht. It is one of the largest drug seizures in the history of the State and probably one of the largest in the history of Europe. For every one caught bringing in drugs, there are possibly others getting through, using our coastline.
The seizure was of pure cocaine. The trouble is that the people who use cocaine are fuelling the industry in Ireland and throughout the world. Those who advocate the use of marijuana and other drugs are bringing young people into a life of drugs. Cocaine is particularly dangerous but less hard drugs are also dangerous. It is regrettable that anyone in public life and elected to the European Parliament should be advocating the use of these narcotic drugs and bringing young people into a life of misery. We are very fortunate to have the support of the Garda. The three suspects are now to be questioned in Cork. I hope there will be more of these seizures in the future.