Seven men got 70 years total for a failed cocaine smuggling plan using a modified boat in west Cork.

Seven men were sentenced to a combined 70 years in prison after pleading guilty to a failed cocaine smuggling plot in west Cork, involving a modified "narco boat" intended to intercept a cargo ship. The operation, targeting the Panama-flagged Cool Explorer, was thwarted by Irish police following a tip-off and surveillance that began after a roadside search uncovered a notepad with local AirBnB and pier locations. The boat, equipped with powerful engines and minimal lighting, had traveled nearly 985 km. Sentences ranged from 8 to 11 years, with reductions for guilty pleas. Authorities credited community cooperation and law enforcement vigilance for stopping the plot.