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Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Two Scots suspects named in Irish court over £26million cocaine plot sting
Two men from Scotland appeared in court after an early hours drug smuggling operation off the coast of Ireland COKE CLAIMS Two Scots suspects named in Irish court over £26million cocaine plot sting Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TWO Scots have appeared in court in connection with a £26million cocaine seizure off the coast of Ireland. Mark Doherty, 40, of Pollok, Glasgow, and Ben Sandford, 40, of Keith, Moray, faced the charges at Bandon District Court along with two other suspects. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Glasgow suspect Mark Doherty hides his face as he arrives at court in Ireland today. 7 Scots suspect Ben Sandford used his jumper to shield his face outside court. 7 Christopher Hibbett, from Cornwall, was one of the four arrested. 7 Levent Gulay, from Germany, covered his face as he arrived at court in Ireland. It comes two days after gardai from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau stopped a van in the Courtmacsherry area of Cork, and a large quantity of suspected cocaine was recovered. Doherty and Sandford appeared alongside co-accused Levent Gulay, 31, of Bavaria, Germany and Christopher Hibbit, 44, from Cornwall in England. Both Scots covered their faces as they were taken into court yesterday afternoon. All four face two charges each of possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Meelmane, Courtmacsherry on Tuesday. Evidence of arrest, charge and caution was given by detectives from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau to Judge Joanne Carroll. Detective Garda John McWeeney said he arrested Doherty and charged him with the two charges. He made no reply when charged. Lawyer Plunkett Taaffe, defending, applied for free legal aid and said his client was not applying for bail at this time. Judge Carroll said a statement of means must be provided before granting his application. Detective Garda Marguerite Reilly said she arrested Levent Gulay and charged him with the two drugs charges on July 2 at 20.45 in Bandon Garda Station. He made no reply. The services of a German interpreter were used both in the Garda Station and in the court this morning. Lawyer Myra Dineen said there would be no bail application at this time, but there may be at a later date. The DOWNFALL of Scotland's biggest gangster - Jamie 'The Iceman' Stevenson Part Two Detective Garda Gavin Curran said he charged Christopher Hibbett and cautioned him. He made no reply to possession of cocaine but replied to the charge of possession for sale or supply: 'I am f***ing sorry. That's it.' Detective Garda Shane Kiely said he arrested and charged Ben Sandford who made no reply to the charges. Sergeant Tom Mulcahy said he was seeking a remand in custody to Macroom District Court on July 9. Judge Joanne Carroll said the State is to be provided with 48 hours notice of any applications for bail, and statements of means for all defendants requesting free legal aid was to be produced 24 hours in advance of court appearances to give the court time to consider the applications. She remanded the four defendants in custody, which she said could be for no more than eight days. They will all appear in Macroom District Court on July 9. We told how the pair were nicked by armed cops in an early-morning sting off the coast of County Cork. 7 Irish forces swoop into action during Tuesday's operation off thee coast of Cork. Credit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin 7 Armed officers were involved in the sting that saw four arrested including two Scots. Credit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin 7 The Irish Navy also played a big part in the early morning sting. Credit: Andy Gibson - The Sun Dublin Forces who smashed the plot suspect a Scottish crime gang masterminded the shipment. A source familiar with the operation said: 'These suspects are considered to be important cogs of this organised crime group. 'The Scottish gang are heavily involved in transnational drug trafficking, but this smuggling route is now dismantled. 'Crime gangs are targeting fishermen and others who are corrupted by money and greed. 'There is no doubt that these individuals were critical enablers for this criminal organisation.' A Gardai source said: 'It was a hugely successful operation and should serve as a warning for international drug gangs targeting the Irish coastline.'
Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
Four men remanded in custody charged over €31m cocaine seizure in Co Cork
Four men have been remanded in custody after being charged in connection with a €31 million drugs seizure in Co Cork on Tuesday. Mark Doherty, Levent Gulay, Ben Sandford and Christopher Hibbett were all charged in connection with the seizure of 440kg of cocaine in Courtmacsherry by gardaí as part of a joint operation with Revenue Customs and Naval Service. The four men were brought to Bandon District Court by officers from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, with support from the force's Armed Support Unit. They were charged with the same two offices – possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Meelmane, Courtmacsherry on July 1st last. READ MORE Four detectives from the bureau gave evidence of arresting and charging the four accused at Bandon and Togher Garda stations in Cork Det Garda John McWeeney gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to Mr Doherty (40), of Waterfoot Avenue, Glasgow, Scotland. He said the accused made no reply to the charges. Det Garda Marguerite Reilly gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to Mr Gulay (31), of Schwabeenstrasse 76, Neu Ulm, Germany, who also made no reply. Det Garda Shane Kiely gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to Mr Sandford (39), of Woodgreen, Drum Road, Keith, Moray, Scotland. He made no reply to the charges. Det Garda Gavin Curran gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to Mr Hibbett (44), of Lower Park, Trissillian, Truro, England, who replied to one of the charges. Det Garda Curran said Mr Hibbett replied, 'I'm f***ing sorry, that's it' when he put the possession of cocaine for sale or supply charge to him. Solicitors Plunkett Taaffe, representing Mr Doherty, and Myra Dineen, representing Mr Gulay, said heir clients were not applying for bail but were reserving their positions. Both solicitors, deputising for Frank Buttimer for Mr Sanford and deputising for Eddie Burke for Mr Hibbett, confirmed they were similarly not seeking bail for either man at this point. Sgt Tom Mulcahy said gardaí were seeking a remand in custody to Macroom District Court on July 9th. Judge Joanne Carroll remanded all four in custody to appear there on that date. She also asked the defence solicitors to provide 48 hours' notice to gardaí if their clients intended to make applications for bail before the appearance at Macroom court. She acceded to a garda request that all four accused supply statements of means to accompany any applications they might make for free legal aid at any future appearance.
