Two men 'caught red-handed' with €800,000 worth of drugs in Douglas, court hears

One of the men is allegedly a major supplier of cocaine to Cork, a special sitting of Cork District Court heard

Gardaí say they intercepted the two accused during an alleged handover of cocaine, cannabis and cash. Picture: Dan Linehan

Two men were “caught red handed” with almost €800,000 worth of drugs in a “highly sophisticated” operation in Douglas, Cork.

Gardaí say they intercepted Chris McCudden, 38, and Michael Pineda, 35, during an alleged handover of cocaine, cannabis and cash.

Mr McCudden is allegedly a major supplier of cocaine to Cork, a special sitting of Cork District Court heard.

He had made three to four previous drug runs to Cork since October, carrying some €1m worth of cocaine each time, the court heard.

The van he drove was “a front” for the drug-dealing operation, emblazoned with branding for a car company which did not exist, Detective garda Eoghan O'Mahony said.

Mr McCudden wore a high-vis jacket while driving on the drug runs to look like a legitimate worker if stopped by gardaí, the court heard.

But the van had been modified so drugs could be concealed in the wheel, with the concealed compartment operated by a hidden switch.

The men were caught “red handed” making the drug transaction on December 30 in Maryborough Ridge, Douglas, the court heard.

In total, gardaí seized €700,000 of suspected cocaine, €60,000 of cannabis and over €40,000 in cash when they intercepted the alleged drug operation.

Follow-up searches were conducted by gardaí in the Dublin 14 area on December 31 and an additional 0.5kg of suspected cannabis with an approximate value of €9,000, along with €4,000 cash, were seized.

Mr McCudden, with an address at Robin Hill, Sandyford Road, Dublin, faces three charges of possession of drugs for sale or supply, three of simple drug possession and two charges for money laundering.

Mr Pineda, of Castletreasure Grove, Douglas, is charged that on December 30 at Maryborough Ridge, he was in possession of €40,000, knowing the money to be the proceeds of criminal activity and on the same date at An Radharc, Maryborough Ridge, with possession of €2,950, knowing it to be the proceeds of criminal activity.

He also faces two charges of cocaine possession for sale or supply and two charges for simple possession of cocaine.

Gardaí objected to bail on multiple grounds for Mr McCudden, including that he was a flight risk and due to the seriousness of the charges.

He had a flight booked for Spain on Tuesday to visit a friend, and he had links to the North, the court heard.

But Mr McCudden denied he was a flight risk, with two daughters in Dublin, one of whom is sitting her Leaving Cert.

He said he wanted to be there for his daughters, particularly to help his eldest daughter through her Leaving Cert.

Solicitor Donal Daly said his client was willing to hand in his passport to gardaí and sign on at a Garda station daily.

Judge Catherine Ryan said if Mr McCudden could provide independent surety of €10,000, surrender his passport to gardaí and met other strict bail conditions, she would grant him bail.

He was remanded in custody until January 8 when he is due back in Cork District Court. If independent surety is provided on that day, he will be granted bail.

Mr Pineda was granted bail and is due back in court on April 2.

Legal aid was granted to both men.