Face of Irish dad who died in Ecuador after €600k drug bust arrest
This is the highly respected factory manager who died in Ecuador four days after he was arrested during a €600,000 drug bust in the country.
Serious concerns have been raised over the circumstances surrounding the arrest and death of John Fennessy (64), a native of Edenderry, Co Offaly, as sources say he had no prior involvement in criminality of any kind.
John, and a younger 22-year-old associate who is not from Edenderry, were arrested by officers from the Policia Nacional del Ecuador on August 1 at Guayaquil Airport after 15kg of cocaine was discovered in suitcases being transported to Madrid.
Authorities said they also seized two firearms, more than 50 rounds of ammunition, cash and four mobile phones, as well as GPS devices.
John Fennessy seen with his younger travelling companion
Both men were brought before an investigating magistrate and remanded in custody, with officials specifying that this was in relation to the trafficking of illicit substances.
Tragically, and before John had an opportunity to put his case forward, the 64-year-old took ill in his cell and passed away.
It's suspected he died as a result of a heart attack.
When the Sunday World called to the home of a brother of John's on Thursday of this week, he declined to comment.
However, local sources said there is a feeling of incredulity in the town that a man with John's background, education and work ethic would be arrested in circumstances of this nature.
'He's gone from Edenderry more than 20 years,' one local told the Sunday World.
'But he still has a lot of family here including brothers and his oldest son who still lives in the town.
'His son would be in his 30s and like all that family would be very highly respected and well liked.
Seized firearms in evidence bags
'Because of the circumstances, people are reluctant to speak about it, but the family will have the full support of everyone in the town.
'People are incredulous really, they feel something is very off about this and are just hopeful that the Department of Foreign Affairs will get some answers for John's family.'
A spokesperson for Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday said 'we don't comment' when contacted by this newspaper. However, in a statement issued earlier in the week the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it 'is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance'.
It's understood efforts are being made to seek the release and repatriation of John's remains to Ireland – while consular assistance has been offered to the younger man who remains in custody.
The country's interior ministry announced details of the arrest earlier this month, saying the men were detained on August 1 for allegedly trafficking illicit controlled substances.
The ministry also published pictures of the drugs operation, showing blurred images of the two men surrounded by Ecuadorian police.
It also showed pictures of the cocaine blocks, a digital weighing scale, a revolver, a handgun and ammunition.
The interior ministry said the national directorate of anti-drug investigations, in co-ordinated work with other units, 'conducted an anti-narcotics inspection in which they detected suitcases containing 15 packages of controlled substances bound for Madrid'.
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Ecuador's Policia Nacional said it prevented 'the shipment of 15 drug packages to Madrid valued at approximately $700,000 [€600,000]'.
'During a controlled operation carried out in Guayaquil, police personnel apprehended two foreign citizens who were transporting 15 blocks contained 14,730 grams of cocaine hidden in their luggage,' the police said.
'With this action, the commercialisation of approximately 147,300 doses of drugs was prevented.'
Ecuador has become one of the largest exporters of cocaine to Europe in recent years
It added that the estimated value of the cocaine on the European market was $688,627.50.
Ecuador has become one of the largest exporters of cocaine to Europe in recent years, despite not growing the illicit drug.
Drugs are normally trafficked in from neighbouring Colombia or Brazil, before being moved onwards to transit hubs in Europe.
The use of drug mules has also become less common, with criminal gangs focusing on shipping multi-tonne shipments across the Atlantic.
In 2024, Spain reported its largest ever seizure of cocaine (13 tonnes) in a single shipment, concealed in bananas originating from Guayaquil.
John Fennessy died shortly after appearing before magistrates
Today's News in 90 Seconds - 18th August
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