Two men have appeared in court charged with drugs, money laundering and organised crime offences in connection with the criminal activities of a west Dublin organised crime group.
The men were arrested at their homes in Dublin and Wexford last night as part of an investigation by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau into the criminal communications network known as 'Ghost'.
Paul Kelly, aged 55, from Cloverhill Drive in Ballyfermot in Dublin and 64-year-old Noel Smith of Summit Lodge, Kilanerin, Gorey in Co Wexford are both charged with eight offences.
Both are accused of facilitating the activities of a criminal gang, possession of cocaine, possession of the drug with intent to supply and laundering €22,220 between August and September 2024.
Mr Smith is also accused of importing drugs.
Two detectives from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in court today.
Detective Garda Kate Gilligan told the court she arrested Mr Kelly at an address on Cloverhill Road in Ballyfermot in west Dublin just after 9pm last night.
He was taken to Clondalkin Garda Station where he was charged at around 10.35pm with eight offences and made no reply.
His solicitor said Mr Kelly was unemployed and on disability allowance.
Detective Garda Dean Healy told the court that he arrested Mr Smith at Summit Lodge at 9.45pm last night and when he was subsequently charged with eight offences at Clondalkin Garda Station he made no reply.
The court was told that the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that both men be tried on indictment before the Special Criminal Court.
There were no applications for bail as bail cannot be granted in the district court on the charges the men face.
Judge Michele Finan remanded Paul Kelly and Noel Smith in custody to appear again at Cloverhill District Court next Friday.
Gardaí say the 'Ghost' network of criminal communications was established to facilitate serious and organised crime by dangerous criminal networks operating on a global scale and that it was used for a wide range of criminal activities, including large-scale drug trafficking, money laundering, instances of extreme violence and other forms of serious and organised crime.
