Two men have appeared in court charged in connection with the seizure of cocaine worth €8.4 million which was flown into Co Longford on a private plane earlier this week.
41-year-old Michal Luczak, with an address at Primose Avenue, Jigginstown, Naas Co Kildare, and 54-year-old Timothy Gilchrist, with an address at Mavis Bank, Newrath, Ferrybank, Co Waterford, appeared before a special sitting of Mullingar District Court this morning.
Both men were charged with possession of 120 kilogramme of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale and supply.
The court heard the men were arrested on Thursday evening.
Mr Luczak was arrested at Abbeyshrule Aerodrome in Co Longford during a planned intelligence-led operation.
The court heard Mr Gilchrist was arrested at Lough Owel, Irishtown, Mullingar, Co Westmeath as part of the same operation.
Detective Garda Liam Mangan from the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau gave evidence of arresting Mr Gilchrist.
He told the court that when he charged the 54-year-old at Ashbourne Garda Station yesterday evening he made no reply.
There was no application for bail and the accused was remanded in custody to appear back before the District Court in Mullingar video link on 11 August.
Given the seriousness and the nature of the charges the court heard, Mr Gilchrist was granted legal aid.
In the case of 41-year-old Michal Luczak, Detective Garda Ivor Scully from Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.
Detective Garda Scully told the court the accused made no reply when he was charged at Ashbourne Garda Station yesterday evening.
An application for bail was made, which gardaí objected to on a number of grounds, including the seriousness of the charges and their belief that the accused was a flight risk.
Judge Patricia Cronin rejected the bail application and remanded the accused in custody.
He will also appear back before Mullingar District Court on 11 August.
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