03-07-2025
Four men charged over €31m cocaine seizure in Co Cork
Four men have appeared before Bandon District Court charged in connection with Tuesday's €31 million cocaine seizure.
Three of the four are British and the fourth has an address in Germany.
All four face two charges each: possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Meelmane, Courtmacsherry, Co Cork, on Tuesday.
The four are 40-year old Mark Doherty, with an address at Waterfront Avenue, Glasgow, and 39-year old Ben Sanford, with an address at Moray in Scotland; 31-year old Levent Gulay, with an address in Bavaria, Germany, and 44-year old Christopher Hibbett from Cornwall in England.
Detectives from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau gave evidence to the court of arresting and charging the four men.
Three of them did not reply when the charges were put to them.
There were no applications for bail, and Judge Joanne Carroll remanded all four in custody.
They will be back before Macroom District Court next Wednesday.
Detectives from the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau have also identified the mothership which was used to transport the cocaine from South America, across the Atlantic to the Irish coastline.
The ship's crew have been interviewed.
No arrests have been made.
