The two men that were arrested in connection to the €8.4 million cocaine seizure that was flown into the country on a small private airplane are due to appear in court this morning.
The massive haul of 120kg of cocaine is believed to have been flown into the country by the Kinahan cartel into a small airfield in County Longford. The drugs were then to be divided and given to different groups who would distribute it.
The two men, 54 and 40, are due to appear before a special sitting of Mullingar District Court later this morning. A garda spokesman said: "The two men, aged 54 and 40, arrested as part of the investigation into the seizure of 120 kilogrammes of cocaine with an estimated street value of €8.4 million by Gardaí from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau supported by other national units in County Westmeath on Thursday, 4th August, 2022, have been charged.
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"They are both expected to appear before a special sitting of Mullingar District Court at 11am on Sunday, 7th August, 2022."
The operation was launched after a light aircraft landed in a commercial airfield in Abbeyshrule, Co Longford, flown from Dieppe-Saint-Aubin Airport in France, just before 5.25pm. Gardai believe the cocaine was unloaded and put into a car which then travelled in convoy with another vehicle.
But officers from the DOCB, supported by armed cops from the Emergency Response Unit, stopped the cars in the Lough Owel area of Co Westmeath. In one of the vehicles, six holdall bags and one suitcase were found stuffed with 120kgs of cocaine.
The Two men – including the suspected pilot – were arrested and taken to Ashbourne Garda Station in Co Meath on suspicion of drug trafficking In follow-up searches on Thursday evening and Friday morning, the aircraft was seized. Houses were also raided in Naas, Co Kildare, and Waterford city and detectives took communication devices which could hold vital evidence.
Investigators believe the cocaine was organised by the cartel and was to be sold to a number of groups. Sources said the Kinahan cartel are using a network of gangs throughout the country for logistics and distribution.
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