Courts / Dublin / Report

Gang leader and 'willing generals' sentenced over international cocaine smuggling ring

Date
2023-10-20

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Francis Fennell, Christopher Mellon, Alan Fagan, Paul Fagan, and Aaron King were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for their roles in an international cocaine smuggling ring. All five defendants pleaded guilty to various charges, including conspiracy to commit serious offences, money laundering, and conspiracy to bring proceeds of criminal conduct into the state between 2012 and 2016. Judge Pauline Codd described the enterprise as a "get rich quick scheme" exploiting price disparities in Australia and New Zealand. Fennell, identified as the mastermind, received a ten-year sentence with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. Mellon, a first-time offender, had his three-and-a-half-year sentence suspended in full and was ordered to pay €10,000 to the Anna Livia project. Alan Fagan, described as a trusted lieutenant, was sentenced to six years with the final four and a half years suspended. Paul Fagan received a six-year sentence with the final three and a half years suspended on conditions. Aaron King, the youngest defendant, was sentenced to four and a half years with the final 18 months suspended on conditions. The judge noted mitigating factors such as guilty pleas, remorse, and evidence of rehabilitation for all defendants.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Gang leader and 'willing generals' sentenced over international cocaine smuggling ring. Charges or matters: four counts of conspiracy to commit a serious offence on dates between 2012 and 2016 and a charge of directing a criminal organisation was taken into consideration; two county of money laundering in 2014; conspiracy to bring the proceeds of criminal conduct into the state on dates between 2012 and 2016; conspiracy to bring the proceeds of criminal conduct into the state on dates in 2014; two counts of money laundering in 2014. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

April 25, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
October 28, 2015 Other
January 2016 Other
May 26, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
2012 and 2016 Incident
2023-10-20 Publication

Why: Four drug mules who carried drugs internally in order to smuggle them into New Zealand and Australia were identified. CNI source report

Case subjects

Aaron King

Defendant

Charges: two counts of money laundering in 2014 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Alan Fagan

Defendant

Charges: conspiracy to bring the proceeds of criminal conduct into the state on dates between 2012 and 2016; conspiracy to bring the proceeds of criminal conduct into the state on dates in 2014; two counts of money laundering in 2014 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Christopher Mellon

Defendant

Charges: two county of money laundering in 2014; conspiracy to bring the proceeds of criminal conduct into the state on dates between 2012 and 2016; conspiracy to bring the proceeds of criminal conduct into the state on dates in 2014; two counts of money laundering in 2014 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Francis Fennell

Defendant

Charges: four counts of conspiracy to commit a serious offence on dates between 2012 and 2016 and a charge of directing a criminal organisation was taken into consideration; two county of money laundering in 2014; conspiracy to bring the proceeds of criminal conduct into the state on dates between 2012 and 2016; conspiracy to bring the proceeds of criminal conduct into the state on dates in 2014; two counts of money laundering in 2014 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Paul Fagan

Defendant

Charges: conspiracy to bring the proceeds of criminal conduct into the state on dates in 2014; two counts of money laundering in 2014 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty