Courts / Cork / Report

Four more drug smuggling accused have cases transferred to non-jury court

Summary

Four men accused of conspiring to import more than €13,000 of controlled drugs into Ireland between 27 February and 14 March 2024 have had their cases transferred to the non‑jury Special Criminal Court. The transfer was granted by Ms Justice Melanie Greally, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Grainne Malone, after an ex‑parte application by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The defendants – Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega (36) of Cadiz, Aleksandar Milic (27) of Belgrade, Juan Antonio Gallardo Barroso (56) of Spain, and Anuar Rahui Chairi (42) of Malaga – are charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 with conspiring to import controlled drugs in excess of the statutory threshold. The decision follows the earlier transfer of six other men, including one from Northern Ireland, to the Special Criminal Court. The men were arrested in March during operations near Skibbereen, where vehicles and a rigid inflatable boat were seized as part of the suspected smuggling operation.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Four more drug smuggling accused have cases transferred to non-jury court. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• February 27 Incident
• March 14 2024 Incident
• January 27 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2025-01-21 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Trial

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Read the original CNI report