A 25-year-old man has appeared in court charged with enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation to commit human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation and money laundering.
Tomass Cukurs with an address in Mill Road, Glenties was charged at Sligo District Court before Judge Éiteáin Cunningham.
The two charges relate to offences that are alleged to have taken place between 6 February 2022 and the 24 November 2022.
Mr Cukurs is accused of enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation to carry out human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation within the state by opening, using and permitting others to use bank accounts, in his name.
That offence is contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006.
He is also charged with acquiring, possessing, handling and transferring property that is the proceeds of criminal conduct, to the value of €202,631 while knowingly or being reckless as to whether or not, it was the proceeds of criminal conduct.
Detective Garda Patrick Kelly of Donegal town Garda Station told the court that Tomass Cukurs was arrested at Dublin Airport at 1pm yesterday on foot of two arrest warrants and was brought to Ballyshannon Garda Station.
An interpreter, fluent in Russian was present in Ballyshannon Garda Station and again, in Sligo District Court this morning.
Detective Garda Kelly said the defendant was handed a copy of the charges and made no reply when the charges were put to him.
Solicitor for Mr Cukurs, Gerry McGovern, made an application to the court for legal aid.
Judge Éiteáin Cunningham remanded the accused in custody to appear before Sligo District Court next Thursday, 19 February.
