Two charged in Tralee court over biggest crystal meth seizure in history of State

Two men from Co Kerry have been charged in relation to the biggest crystal meth drugs seizure in the history of the State

Nathan McDonnell (left) and James Leen (right) Tralee

A Tralee businessman and another local Kerry man have been charged in relation to the biggest crystal meth seizure in the history of the State.

Nathan McDonnell, age 43, director of 11 companies with a turnover of €4.5m - €5m, including the well-known Ballyseedy Garden Centre in Tralee, was charged with possession of drugs worth more than €13,000 for sale or supply at the garden centre between October 27 and February 12.

James Leen, age 41 of Pilgrim Hill, Kilmourna, Listowel, faced two charges – of drug importation at Cork Port, Ringaskiddy, on October 16, 2023, of methylamphetamine worth €13,000 or more and of drug possession for sale or supply of methylamphetamine worth €13,000 or more at Ballyseedy Garden Centre between October 27, 2023 and February 12, 2024.

The court heard how a purpose-built electromagnetic separator machine had concealed more than half a tonne of crystal meth worth more than €33m in a highly sophisticated manner. This machine had been shipped from Mexico and had been stored in Ballyseedy Garden Centre in Tralee since October.

Searches at the port in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork on February 15 uncovered the electromagnetic recycling machine destined for export to Australia in which was concealed 546kg of crystal meth — the largest ever seized with a local street value of almost €33m.

Searches in Cork and Kerry followed on the morning of February 16 and Mr McDonnell was arrested at Ballyseedy Garden Centre.

Nathan McDonnell appearing at Tralee Court this afternoon on drugs charges. Bail denied. #Tralee #Courts #NathanMcDonnell #Ballyseedy #Kerry #Ireland pic.twitter.com/8LpcVdAjCF

— 𝕄𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕆’𝔻𝕠𝕟𝕟𝕖𝕝𝕝, (@mikodonnell) February 23, 2024

CCTV evidence of the machine being loaded into the container, messages on mobile phones and emails about the shipment were found.

The court heard Mr McDonnell, of Ballyseedy, Tralee, admitted to gardaí that he had stored the machine at Ballyseedy Garden Centre and said that he was paid €150,000 to do so.

Detective Sergeant Tommy Griffin said that the machine was purpose-built and the operation was highly sophisticated with the drugs very well concealed, making it “almost impossible” to detect the drugs.

He said that the organised crime group responsible was “highly sophisticated”.

He said that Mr McDonnell would present a “significant flight risk” if released on bail.

He had begun to liquidate his companies, which reduced his business links to the area, Det Sgt Griffin said.

Mr McDonnell's solicitor, Padraig O'Connell, said that his client is a married man with a young family and ties to the locality who had never been in any legal trouble before. He said that he engaged with the investigation over the previous seven days.

He said that his client pleaded not guilty and did not know that drugs were concealed in the machine.

“The machine is not the drug. He has denied any knowledge of drugs in the machine,” he said.

James Leen at Tralee Court today charged over large drugs seizure. Bail denied. #Tralee #Drugs pic.twitter.com/2V2mQLgMy9

— 𝕄𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕆’𝔻𝕠𝕟𝕟𝕖𝕝𝕝, (@mikodonnell) February 23, 2024

James Leen faced two charges — of drug importation at Cork Port, Ringaskiddy, of methylamphetamine with a value of €13,000 or more contrary to Section 15B (1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act and of drug possession for sale or supply for a quantity of €13,000 or more contrary to Section 15a of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Mr Leen made no reply on Friday when he was charged.

Det Sgt David Howard said that Mr Leen had been “liaising with organised crime groups across the globe" and is believed to be highly involved in the upper tiers of drug trafficking.

Mr Leen had travelled to many countries in 2023, including Dubai, Romania, Columbia, and China.

He said he had travelled to Columbia despite having no evidence of that on his passport, which Det Sgt Howard said indicated that he could travel abroad undetected by authorities.

And he had the financial means and sophistication to flee the country, including through use of crypto currency, he said.

Many of the countries Mr Leen had recently visited did not have extradition treaties with Ireland and Det Sgt Howard said gardaí believed he would travel to one of these countries if granted bail.

“This man operates in the higher hierarchy of organised crime. My belief is that with or without a passport, the accused would have no issues fleeing this jurisdiction.” 

Mr Leen’s solicitor Patrick Mann said that his client “denies absolutely and totally any involvement in these matters.” He said that the evidence was of a “highly speculative nature”.

Judge David Waters refused both men bail and remanded them in custody to appear again before Tralee District Court via videolink on February 28.