Three men have been charged in relation to a €6.3m cocaine haul in Gorey, County Wexford.
There was tight security inside Gorey District Court today as the three men, one Polish, one Moldovan and one from Dublin, were brought to court from a Wexford Garda Station, where they had been held by members of the Drugs Organised Crime Bureau since an operation in Gorey earlier in the week.
The accused are Dominik Budka from Poland; Benhood Razavi, a Moldovan national living in Spain; and Conor Coughlan, residing in Cavan but a native of Swords, County Dublin.
Judge John Cheatle heard evidence of arrest, charge, and caution in respect of each of the accused, from Detective Garda Niall Cleary, Det. Garda Vinny Jaffray, and Det. Garda John McWeeney, all three attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
The three males, one aged in his 20s, one in his 30s and one in his 40s, were arrested following an operation that led to the seizure of the cocaine in a unit on a small industrial estate at Ballyclare, just outside Gorey town.
Each man was charged with two offences under Section 3 and Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
The court was told that all three accused made no reply to the charges.
Mr Razavi was also charged with money laundering, with the sum of €37,000 found in a house on the same date in Swords, County Dublin.
There was no application for bail in respect of Mr Budka and Mr Razavi, with Counsel stating that both were consenting to a remand in custody.
Ms Lana Doherty, Solicitor for Coughlan, applied for bail, stating that he would provide a permanent address and abide by whatever conditions set down by the court.
Prosecuting, Sergt Stephen Ennis, said gardai would be objecting to bail given the seriousness of the offence and the quantity of cocaine involved, and also the fear that he may not stand trial.
Following further submissions from Ms Doherty, Judge Cheatle said he would grant bail under strict conditions.
Judge Cheatle said he would set bail conditions of a personal surety of €5,000 along with an independent surety of €5,000. He also ordered that the accused reside at an address in Dublin, to be provided to Gardai, and not leave the county of Dublin; that he provide a telephone number; surrender his passport and not apply for a new passport; and also abide by a curfew of 10pm to 6am.
Judge Cheatle remanded the three accused in custody to appear again before Gorey District Court on 17 December next.
