Four more men accused of conspiring to import drugs have cases transferred to Special Criminal Court

Alison O’Riordan

Four more men accused of conspiring to import a large amount of controlled drugs into Ireland last year have had their cases transferred to the non-jury Special Criminal Court.

Ms Justice Melanie Greally, presiding, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Grainne Malone on Tuesday granted an ex-parte application - where only one side is present in court - by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to try the four men at the non-jury court.

Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega (36) of Cadiz in Spain, Aleksandar Milic (27) with an address in Belgrade in Serbia, Juan Antonio Gallardo Barroso (56) with an address in Spain and Anuar Rahui Chairi (42) of Malaga in Spain are all charged with conspiring with their co-accused to do an act in the State that constitutes a serious offence, namely the importation of controlled drugs in excess of €13,000 on dates between February 27th and March 14th 2024, both dates inclusive, within the State.

The alleged offence is contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977.

Six other men - including one from Northern Ireland - who are also charged with the same offence of conspiring with others to import drugs, have already been returned for trial to the Special Criminal Court.

The 10 men come from Ireland, Spain, Serbia and the Netherlands.

The 10 men were arrested by gardaí last March during operations in the villages of Tragumna and Leap near Skibbereen in west Cork, where a jeep, camper van, articulated truck, and rigid inflatable boat were seized as part of the suspected drug smuggling operation.

At a brief hearing on Tuesday, State Solicitor Ciara Vibien said that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was applying to the three-judge court to make an order under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act that the defendants be tried before the Special Criminal Court.

In certain cases, the DPP can certify that in his or her opinion the ordinary courts are inadequate to secure the effective administration of justice.

Presiding judge Ms Justice Greally made the formal order for the four men's cases to be heard at the non-jury court.

The men were not present in court on Tuesday for the legal formality.

The case was listed for mention before the non-jury court on January 27th next, when the four men are required to be in attendance.