Woman appears in court in Cork in connection with crystal meth production in Kerry

Anna Entrambasaguas at Cork District Court. Picture: Larry Cummins

A woman allegedly “heavily involved” in the production of crystal meth, the drug made infamous by hit TV show Breaking Bad, was in court following a garda bust of a meth lab in Killarney.

Anna Entrambasaguas, 43, faces seven charges, including of drug possession for sale or supply, and possession of stolen and fake IDs.

And more serious charges may be pending, Cork City District Court heard on Saturday evening.

Chemicals and articles to produce methylamphetamine - or crystal meth - were found in her home at apartment 2 Knocknasartnett, Killarney, Co Kerry on October 31.

An iPhone seized in her apartment suggested she was “heavily involved” in the production of crystal meth, Garda Ger O’Sullivan of the Kerry Divisional Drugs Unit told the court.

A quantity of the drug was also found in her bedroom, he said. This had a market value of approximately €500 pending analysis, Gda O’Sullivan said.

Numerous blank white credit cards, documents, and a specially designed machine for making high quality identity documents were also found.

Driving licences in other women's names but with Ms Entrambasaguas’ photos were found in her home.

Gda O’Sullivan objected to bail.

There was strong evidence to support the charges and some admissions were made by her in interview, he said.

She is a heavy crystal meth user and is heavily involved in the production and supply of crystal meth in this jurisdiction, Gda O’Sullivan alleged.

She has the capability to create high quality ID documents for her use and can use different aliases to hide her identity, Gda O’Sullivan said.

Although she has been in Ireland for about 20 years, she has no ties to the jurisdiction and could leave.

She has an adult daughter in Sweden and during her time in Ireland she has lived a transient life, moving between multiple locations, including in Limerick, Clare, Kerry, and Dundalk, he said.

Her solicitor, Brendan Ahern applied for bail for his client. He said she would turn up for court dates and would comply with strict bail conditions if granted.

His client was in fear of a coercive relationship, he said.

As more charges were possibly pending and no directions had yet been issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions, she could be in custody for a long time while waiting for a book of evidence to be served, he said.

“She enjoys the presumption of innocence," he said.

“She’ll be waiting a long time in custody for these matters to crystallize.” “It takes many months, up to a year, to get drugs analyzed in Dublin,” he said.

Gda O’Sullivan said that a phone call from Forensics Science Ireland had confirmed some of the drugs as crystal meth so far.

Gardaí arrested Ms Entrambasaguas at Apt 2 Knocknasartnett, Killarney, Co Kerry on October 31.

On that date and at that address she was charged possession of methylamphetamine for sale or supply, contrary to Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977 and with possession of methylamphetamine contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977.

She was also charged with having two stolen driving licenses in her possession under other women’s names in the property at that date.

These offences were contrary to Section 18 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud) Act 2001.

Gardaí also found her in possession of two forged Czech Republic driving licenses also in other women’s names in her apartment.

These two offences were contrary to Section 29(2) and (6) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

A final charge was having a machine – a printer – which was specially designed to make a false instrument – understood to be fake IDs.

This offence was contrary to Section 29(3) and (6) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

Gda O’Sullivan said that she made no reply when she was charged and cautioned.

Judge Joanne Carroll refused bail. She said there was strong evidence in the case, she suffers a drug addiction and has a real risk of not attending trial.

“I consider her a flight risk,” Judge Carroll said.

She remanded her in custody until Wednesday, November 6 to appear before Tralee District Court.

Her solicitor Brenadan Ahern said that his client had no means and was on disability allowance.

She was granted free legal aid.

Ms Entrambasaguas attended court, long blond braided hair held back from her face with a thick black headband. She wore a white and black checked jacked.