A man has been arrested in connection with the largest drugs seizure in the history of the State. 

Gardaí said the man was arrested for alleged organised crime offences contrary to the Criminal Justice Act, 2006. 

This man is the eighth person to be arrested as part of the investigation into €157 million worth of drugs seized on a bulk cargo ship. 

Two of those arrested, 31-year-old Jamie Harbron from the UK and 60-year-old Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, are due in court on Monday for the seizure. 

They will appear before Wexford District court on Monday, via video link, charged with conspiracy to import drugs. 

The other six are currently detained at Garda stations around the southern region. 

All 25 crew members aboard the ship MV Matthew are being interviewed by Gardaí, one of whom had to be medically evacuated. 

South America

Assistant Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said the drugs originated from South America. 

He said organised crime groups in Ireland and Europe sourced and divided up these drugs.  

“There's no large shipment like this coming into our ports or transiting our country without an Irish criminal group involved,” he said. 

“These groups are transnational groups. They are working all across the world.  

“Because of that, we need to work with our international partners.”