Courts / Cork / Report
Failed rendezvous at sea - Court hears of foiled smuggling operation off south coast
Summary
At the Special Criminal Court, six accused men pleaded guilty to charges related to a foiled drug importation operation off the south coast. Angel Del Rio Sanz, Anuar Rahui Chairi, Aleksandar Milic, Kiumaars Ghabiri, Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega, and Angel Serran Padilla admitted to conspiring with others to import controlled drugs in excess of €13,000 between February 27 and March 14, 2024. The prosecution alleged the group attempted a sea rendezvous with the vessel Cool Explorer to smuggle 840kg of cocaine, which was later found washed up in Denmark. Evidence presented included the seizure of a rigid inflatable boat, vehicles, and nautical equipment at Tragumna Pier in Cork. The court heard that the RIB's GPS data indicated an attempt to intercept the ship's path. The matter is currently at the pre-trial stage; sentencing for the guilty pleas is ongoing, with the hearing continuing. Separately, co-accused Ali Ghasemi Mazidi, Sean Curran, and Raul Tabares Garcia sought trial dates. The court adjourned the matter for a mention on July 28 to list a trial date, meaning the proceedings for these three defendants have not been concluded.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Failed rendezvous at sea - Court hears of foiled smuggling operation off south coast. Charges or matters: conspiring with others to import drugs; a charge that they conspired with their co-accused to do an act in the State that constitutes a serious offence, namely the importation of controlled drugs in excess of €13,000 on dates between February 27 and March 14 2024, both dates inclusive, within the State. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- February 27 Incident
- March 14 2024 Incident
- Tuesday, February 27, 2024 Incident
- March 12, 2024 Other
- March 17 Other
- March 12 Other
- March 14 Other
- March 15 Other
- March 14, 2024 Hearing Or Sentence
- Monday, July 28 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2025-07-21 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: conspiring with others to import drugs; a charge that they conspired with their co-accused to do an act in the State that constitutes a serious offence, namely the importation of controlled drugs in excess of €13,000 on dates between February 27 and March 14 2024, both dates inclusive, within the State (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Accused
Charges: conspiring with others to import drugs; a charge that they conspired with their co-accused to do an act in the State that constitutes a serious offence, namely the importation of controlled drugs in excess of €13,000 on dates between February 27 and March 14 2024, both dates inclusive, within the State (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Accused
Charges: a charge that they conspired with their co-accused to do an act in the State that constitutes a serious offence, namely the importation of controlled drugs in excess of €13,000 on dates between February 27 and March 14 2024, both dates inclusive, within the State (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Accused
Charges: conspiring with others to import drugs; a charge that they conspired with their co-accused to do an act in the State that constitutes a serious offence, namely the importation of controlled drugs in excess of €13,000 on dates between February 27 and March 14 2024, both dates inclusive, within the State (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Accused
Charges: conspiring with others to import drugs; a charge that they conspired with their co-accused to do an act in the State that constitutes a serious offence, namely the importation of controlled drugs in excess of €13,000 on dates between February 27 and March 14 2024, both dates inclusive, within the State (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Accused
Charges: a charge that they conspired with their co-accused to do an act in the State that constitutes a serious offence, namely the importation of controlled drugs in excess of €13,000 on dates between February 27 and March 14 2024, both dates inclusive, within the State (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
- being brought to Bandon Garda Station
- Bandon
Topics
Drugs Stage Charge Or Pretrial
Related court reports
- 'Alternative dispute resolution': man arranged 'straightener' during which dad-of-seven was stabbed to death
- €60m cocaine conspiracy accused fails in bid to have bail refusal overturned
- Murder accused pleads guilty to violent disorder at playground
- Dutch woman offered €30k surety for friend after reading news article on €60m drugs seizure
- Dutch teacher sold house to provide surety for alleged cocaine smuggler
- Spanish national admits to drug conspiracy
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request