The text message came from Dubai with a Santa Claus emoji. “Okay, guys. No luck needed. Honestly, this couldn’t be simpler. Just relax, and it’ll soon be over.”

The message was addressed to a Ukrainian fisherman and an unemployed man from Teesside, northeast England, who were sailing into the middle of the Irish Sea to collect cocaine from a passing cargo ship, the MV Matthew.

It turned out they needed a lot of luck, and nothing was simple.

The two men were part of a daring attempt to smuggle more than 2.2 tons of cocaine to the UK and Europe. The attempt failed, thanks to a successful crackdown by Irish authorities on powerful drug cartels.

Eight men were sentenced to 129 years in prison. All of the cocaine was destroyed.

But despite this result, law enforcement agencies across Europe admit they are struggling to stop the rising amount of cocaine crossing the Atlantic from South America.

The Maritime Analysis Operations Centre (MAOC), which monitors the transatlantic drug trade, says 100 ships suspected of smuggling drugs to Europe were not stopped last year because authorities did not have enough vessels to intercept them.

“We have information about the vessel crossing the Atlantic… that is loaded at the time, and yet we still don’t have the interception resources we need,” its director, Sjoerd Top, told the BBC’s Panorama programme.

The MAOC monitors up to 600 ships every day, with record amounts of cocaine being produced in South America, he added.

117 tonnes of cocaine were consumed in Britain last year, the National Agency reported against crime in that country. The number of cocaine-related deaths has increased tenfold since 2011.

The drugs are usually transported on large container ships to European ports such as Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Antwerp, Belgium. However, as security in these locations has been tightened, smugglers have sought alternative routes.

Many are now using off-loading methods at sea, transferring bales of cocaine from a “mother” vessel to a smaller “daughter” vessel to take them ashore.

“In the last six months alone, we have intercepted tonnes of cocaine, with multiple one- and two-ton seizures using this method at sea,” said Charlie Eastaugh, director of marine for the UK Border Force.

But the cartels are relentless and are increasingly targeting Ireland, the only European country with an open border with the UK.

“Drug superhighway”

Ireland has nearly 3,200 kilometres of coastline, much of it ideal for smuggling, with hundreds of secluded coves.

And that coastline is vulnerable. The country's military forces help combat cartels, but Ireland has the lowest defense spending in the European Union (EU), at just 0.2% of GDP. The Irish Naval Service has just eight vessels, but only two are typically allowed to sail due to a shortage of sailors. "We have 132,000 square miles of water under our jurisdiction. A responsibility to the EU for 16% of European waters and two vessels. It doesn't make any sense," said former naval commander Eugene Ryan. The same goes for air support. The Irish Defence Forces are supposed to provide the helicopters to help protect the coast. But Panorama has been told that sometimes they don't have a single one available to do the job.

"The drug trafficking superhighway crosses the Atlantic, and one of the first countries it reaches is Ireland. Our territorial waters are a real battleground, it's like the Wild West," said Cathal Berry, a former Irish army commander.

The Irish government said it maintains a "continuous presence and surveillance" in its maritime sphere. And he announced that defense funding will increase by €600 million ($700 million), a 55% increase over four years, and that “significant initiatives… have also resulted in the stabilization of the Naval Service’s strength.”

The blockbuster operation in detail

While the record-breaking cocaine seizure on the MV Matthew was a success for the Irish state, it also highlighted potential weaknesses in the country’s defenses.

A cartel group, believed by law enforcement to be led by the notorious Irish Kinahan organized crime group, bought the cargo ship for around $13 million in August 2023.

In mid-September, three men were sent to buy a trawler called the Castlemore from the fishing port of Castletownbere in southwest Ireland.

They were Ukrainian Vitaliy Lapa, Englishman Jamie Harbron, and a Scotsman from Dubai, whom police have named Person of Interest One.

Police watched as the Scotsman oversaw a $351,000 payment from a Dubai construction company. Panorama has identified him as Scotsman Stefan Boyd, although it is unknown if he played a more senior role.

Boyd flew back to Dubai first class, where he is believed to remain. Panorama has been unable to contact him for comment.

Lapa and Habron, who were later convicted, set sail from Castlemore on Friday, September 22, unaware that authorities had installed a tracker on the vessel.

Police later obtained messages showing that the crew were receiving instructions from Dubai.

Irish authorities tracked the MV Matthew and Castlemore over the next two days as the two vessels unsuccessfully attempted to rendezvous in the Irish Sea during the stormy weather. The trawler experienced engine problems and intermittently lost power.

As the weather worsened, the Iranian captain of the MV Matthew, Soheil Jelveh, wanted to head north, but his superiors in Dubai warned him to avoid British waters.

“The Irish coastguard only has VHFs, the British coastguard also has boats,” he was told.

At the time, the Irish navy only had one ship at sea, the WB Yeats. In fact, it was already tracking the smugglers and waiting for an order to intervene.

On Sunday night, the Castlemore ran aground on a sandbank during the storm, and the traffickers on the trawler had to call in the Irish coastguard for rescue. They were picked up by helicopter.

On the MV Matthew, panic spread. Less than 24 hours later, the captain falsely claimed he was injured and needed urgent treatment. He too was airlifted to safety by the Coast Guard, who were unaware of the Navy's operation.

At the hospital, Jelveh was found to have more than $50,000 in his suitcase. He was arrested after jumping out of bed and attempting to escape from the facility.

Meanwhile, a Filipino, Harold Estoesta, had taken over as captain and attempted to evade the Navy.

Voicemails and text messages describe what happened over the next few hours.

A chief in Dubai, who called himself Captain Noah, told the crew to remain calm.

“My stress level is at fever pitch. Try to stay calm, stay calm. Full speed ahead!” he said in a voicemail.

But the navy ordered the MV Matthew to reroute to Cork, and eventually fired warning shots. The first time since the 1980s.

A recording gives a glimpse of the drama. The new captain told the navy, “We are scared. We will leave because we are being shot at. Please don’t shoot at us. My crew are panicking and crying.”

The navy commander replied, “You have nothing to be scared of. I just ask that you proceed to Cork Harbour.”

The Irish authorities decided to board the MV Matthew using the Irish Army’s Ranger Wing, but no suitable helicopters were available.

Five were in a hangar, awaiting spares and servicing. The only airworthy helicopter was being used as an air ambulance.

“They had to strip out all the medical equipment and repurpose it for a military mission,” said Cathal Berry, a former deputy commander of the Irish air force. Two machine guns were quickly set up.

The commanders in Dubai still didn't believe the Irish military could stop them.

Captain Noah told them in an audio message: “Guys, please listen to me. So far, no helicopter for you, no commandos, nothing. Have confidence.”

The last messages sent to Captain Noah from the MV Matthew were images of a helicopter hovering overhead. Seconds later, soldiers descended on the deck and captured the crew.

Against all odds, and despite a shortage of boats and helicopters, the drug raid was a victory for the Irish state.