Four men charged with conspiracy to import drugs in West Cork remanded in custody

The four-week remand is to allow for the preparation of a book of evidence

Ali Mazidi consented to a four-week extension to the period of custody. Picture: Dan Linehan

Four men who were among 10 arrested on March 14 in connection with a drugs investigation were remanded in custody for four weeks in the district court to allow for the preparation of a book of evidence.

The four men, Sean Curran, 37, of Carrickyheenan, Aughnacloy, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh; Kiumaars Ghaibiri, 51, of Rotterdam, Netherlands; Ali Mazidi, 49, of 700 South Banke, Plauts 40, 3012HB, Netherlands and Mario Angel Del Rio Sanz, 45 of no fixed address, Spain appeared at Bantry District Court.

Kiumaars Ghaibiri. Picture: Dan Linehan

Court presenter Inspector Triona O’Mahony said it was the State’s intention to apply for a four-week extension to the period of custody with the men’s consent. The maximum permitted extension to custody without their consent is two weeks.

Siún Hurley, solicitor representing Flor Murphy, solicitor for Sean Curran and Kiumaars Ghaibiri, said that both men consented to a four-week extension to the period of custody. 

Sean Curran. Picture: Dan Linehan

Plunkett Taaffe, solicitor for Ali Mazidi, said that his client agreed to a four-week extension to the period of custody and Myra Dineen, solicitor for Mario Angel Del Rio San, said that her client agreed to a four-week extension to the period of custody.

Judge James McNulty remanded all four men in custody by consent to appear again at Bantry District Court on Wednesday, April 24. The men are charged with conspiracy with others to import controlled drugs in excess of €13,000 between February 27 and March 14 into the State.

Mario Angel Del Rio Sanz. Picture: Dan Linehan

Two other men arrested in connection with the same drugs investigation, Juan Antonio Gallardo, 55, of 12 Turina Street, Cadiz, Spain and Aleksander Milic, 26, of Svetorgorska 15, Flat 5, Belgrade, Serbia, both appeared by video link from Cork Prison at Mallow District Court on March 26 where they also consented to a further four-week period in custody.

The men were arrested in West Cork when gardaí stropped a truck and an SUV at Tragumna Pier and a camper van in the village of Leap as part of an ongoing operation into alleged organised crime.