DPP to get file in eight weeks against 10 men accused of conspiring to import drugs in Cork

Cork District Court heard that there was new phone analysis evidence

The lorry that was searched by gardaí after the arrests in Tragumna in March. Picture: Andy Gibson

The team of gardaí investigating the cases against 10 men accused of conspiring to import drugs into Ireland hopes to send their file to the Director of Public Prosecutions in eight weeks, it emerged on Monday.

Detective Sergeant Michael Lyons attended at Cork District Court to give a progress report on the investigation when three Spanish nationals appeared in court by video link from prison.

Solicitor Eddie Burke complained on behalf of one of the accused that there did not appear to be anything new on the progress which was outlined a fortnight ago.

Det. Sgt Lyons said that his evidence on phone analysis was new. He said that seven seized phones were of particular interest and two of the phones had been unlocked and that five others continued to be analysed. “What we can say is these phones are quite well secured,” Det. Sgt Lyons said.

When Mr Burke said that, for instance, the reference to enquiries with police in both South America and North America this evidence had been given before, Det. Sgt Lyons said that there had been further communications with North and South American police since this was mentioned a fortnight ago.

Det. Sgt Lyons said the file would be sent to the DPP unless one of the many lines of enquiry brought the investigation off on a new thread. 

Barrister Nicholas Hall who represented two of the accused asked if the prosecution could give a more exact indication about time given that the accused had been in custody for a period approaching five months now. “He is in custody since March. He is regrettably at sea about how their investigation is proceeding,” he said. 

Mr Hall complained that the reference to possibly eight weeks was nebulous from the point of view of the accused men. Judge Mary Dorgan said it was a complex investigation and that in this context the time being taken was not unreasonable.

All three accused before the court on Monday were remanded in continuing custody until the first remand court of the summer, August 2.

Evidence gathered

Det. Sgt Lyons said that a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) had been examined as part of the investigation, there were over 350 statements from gardaí and witnesses, more than 310 lines of enquiry are being followed, over 2,000 hours of CCTV harvested and being examined, more than 700 exhibits seized, photographed and catalogued and more than 50 electronic devices seized and examined. 

He said numerous enquiries were ongoing with Europol and Interpol and gardaí were liaising with a number of other international law enforcement agencies in South America and North America.

Defendants

Pedro Padio Ojeda Ortega, 35,of Cadiz, Spain, who was represented by solicitor, Eddie Burke, was remanded in custody until July 23.

Angel Serran Padilla, 39, of Malaga, Spain, and Raul Garcia Tabares, 48, of Cadiz, Spain, were represented by barrister Nicholas Hall.

Each of the accused — and seven other men also before the courts — is accused of conspiring with nine others to import drugs. The charge in each case states, “That you (defendant’s name) on dates between February 27 and March 14, both dates inclusive, within the state, did conspire with one or more persons, namely (nine other names) to do an act in the state that constitutes a serious offence, namely the importation of controlled drugs in excess of €13,000, an offence contrary of Section 15B (1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 as amended and contrary to Section 71 (1) (a) (4) of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 as amended by Section 4 (b) of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions ) Act 2023.”