Cork court told that Dublin man carried ‘€1m of drugs per trip’ between cities

A father-of-two who appeared in court in Cork today, charged in connection with an €800,000 drugs and cash seizure, allegedly told gardaí that he had made around three drugs runs from Dublin to Cork since October, transporting around €1m of drugs per trip.

Christopher McCudden of Robin Hill, Sandyford Road in Dublin 14 appeared before Cork District Court where he was charged with eight offences. He faces three charges of possession of drugs for sale or supply, three charges involving simple possession of drugs and two charges of money laundering.

Mr McCudden (38) and Michael Pineda (35) of Douglas in Cork were arrested on December 30th at Maryborough Ridge in Cork city. They were taken to garda stations for questioning after gardaí allegedly observed a drugs transaction between the pair.

Gardai seized €700,000 of cocaine, €60,000 of cannabis and €40,000 in cash. Follow-up searches in Dublin led to the seizure of an additional €10,000 of cannabis and €4,000 in cash.

Det Garda Eoghan O’Mahony said that Mr McCudden was caught “red handed” with the drugs in a van by gardaí. Five kilos of cocaine were found in his Ford Transit van and an additional three kilos of cannabis were located in a tyre alignment machine in the vehicle. A total of €40,000 in cash was also in the van.

He stated Mr McCudden was dressed in high vis clothes and driving a work van with a logo for a company which does not exist. Gardaí also maintain that the van was modified to allow for the concealment of drugs.

Det Garda O’Mahony told Judge Catherine Ryan that Mr McCudden made certain admissions during his garda interviews. He said that the accused claimed that he had brought 10-15 kilos of cocaine in a van to Cork every month since October last and that "each van contained €1m in drugs.” 

Det O’Mahony said gardaí believed it was a “sophisticated operation” and that Mr McCudden was a trusted member of an organised crime group.

An objection to bail was made in the case of Mr McCudden arising out of the "nature and seriousness of the charges and the possibility of further charges.” 

Det Garda O’Mahony said that Mr McCudden represented a flight risk. 

He cited the ties of the accused to Northern Ireland. He also said that Mr McCudden had booked a holiday to Spain. He was set to fly to Alicante next week.

However, defence solicitor Donal Daly said that his client had booked a five-day break to Alicante to stay with a friend who now lives there. He further stated that his client was a “big man” who made no effort to flee when arrested by gardaí. He added that Mr McCudden was prepared to abide by all of the bail conditions set down by the court.

Mr McCudden refuted suggestions by gardaí that he would leave the jurisdiction if he was granted bail. He insisted that he wanted to be there for his family in order to “make things right.” 

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He denied that the van had been modified. 

He said that he made the drugs run from Dublin to Cork “three or four times.” 

Mr McCudden accepted that he was “up to no good” when he was arrested by gardaí. He claimed that he only got involved in the drugs runs because of debts.

Free legal aid was assigned because Mr McCudden is a recipient of social welfare. 

Judge Ryan granted bail in the case, with an independent surety of €10,000 and a cash lodgement of €5,000. 

Mr McCudden also has to surrender his passport, sign on daily at Dundrum Garda Station and reside at the address of his mother in Sandyford Road. 

CURFEW

He also has to obey a curfew and provide a mobile phone number to gardaí on which he can be contacted 24/7.

Mr McCudden was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear before Cork District Court again on January 8th next.

Meanwhile, Det Garda Robert Kennedy gave evidence in relation to Michael Pineda of Castletreasure Grove, Douglas in Cork. He said that Mr Pineda made no reply when the charges were put to him under caution at the Togher Garda station in Cork city.

There was no objection to bail in the case once Mr Pineda abides bail conditions set down by the court. This includes that he sign on at his local garda station, provide a mobile number to gardaí on which he can be contacted on 24/7, and resides at his home address.

Mr Pineda is charged with six offences. He is charged with two counts of sale and supply of drugs, two counts of possession of drugs and two counts of money laundering.

It was claimed that Mr Pineda had fled the scene at Maryborough Ridge in Cork by foot on December 30th. However, he was apprehended by gardaí. The court heard that gardaí had observed Mr McCudden hand over a SuperValu plastic bag containing five kilos of cocaine to Mr Pineda.

Mr Pineda was remanded on bail to appear before Cork District Court on April 2nd for DPP directions.