A trawler which ran aground in Wexford is said to have been carrying millions of euro worth of cocaine.
A major joint operation between Gardaí, Navy and the Irish Air Corps saw two people rescued from the fishing boat, after it got into trouble in north Wexford.
Both men were then arrested and questioned in Wexford Garda Station.
The boat, named The Castlemore, had been sold by a local fisherman to an unknown buyer last Friday.
The trawler ran aground on a remote sandbank and, due to poor weather conditions, could not be easily reached by authorities.
These conditions impacted rescue attempts as well as subsequent efforts to search the boat for its suspected cargo of drugs.
Authorities are now concerned that the boat may become badly damaged due to bad weather in the area. There are also concerns for the safety of the Coast Guard and Navy staff who are undertaking the dangerous search operation.
It is understood that the boat was being monitored by Gardaí and the Navy before being grounded.
The Defence Forces and AGS describe the operation as ongoing.