Seven men have been returned for trial to the Special Criminal Court charged with conspiring to import drugs into the State between 18 December last year and 15 January this year.
They were arrested following a joint garda and Revenue operation off the Kerry coast in January.
All seven are charged with conspiring with each other and with others to import drugs with a value of more than €13,000 into the State between 18 December 2024 and January 15 2025.
The charges are brought under Section 15 B of the 1977 Misuse of Drugs Act.
Those charged are 30-year-old Conor Costello with an address at Earhart Park, Madamsbank Road, Derry; 45-year old Miljan Koprivica, an eastern European with an address in Manchester; 31-year old Ryan Watson and 40-year old Gary Monks, both with addresses in Glasgow; and three Filipino nationals, 28-year-old Feljon Lao, 36-year-old Hanz Pangahin and 43-year-old Christopher Ampo.
All seven were brought before the district court in Tralee, where applications to return them for trial were made by State Solicitor for Kerry, Diane Reidy.
Ms Reidy told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had certified that the ordinary courts were not adequate for the administration of justice in these cases.
Applications for free legal aid were made in the case of all seven accused and, in some cases, applications for the assignment of an interpreter were also made.
Judge David Waters told each of the men that they must inform the prosecution within a fortnight if they wish to rely on an alibi as part of their defence.
All seven were remanded in custody.
