Courts / Cork / Report
'Narco boat' conspirators get combined 70 years as judge notes they 'totally underestimated' local communities and law enforcement
Summary
At the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, seven men were sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to import controlled drugs between February 27th and March 14th, 2024, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. All defendants pleaded guilty to the charges. The court, presided over by Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, determined that the group had engaged in a serious conspiracy involving extensive planning and reconnaissance in west Cork. The judge noted the defendants had underestimated local communities and law enforcement. The headline sentence of 18 years was reduced by one-third to reflect the guilty pleas. Kiumaars Ghabiri, an Iranian national resident in the Netherlands, along with Spanish nationals Mario Angel Del Rio Sanz and Anuar Rahui Chairi, who remained on land, each received 11 years imprisonment. Spanish national Angel Serran Padilla, who took to sea, was also sentenced to 11 years. His countryman Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega received 10 years. Juan Antonio Gallardo Barroso and Serbian national Aleksander Milic, the youngest of the group, were each sentenced to eight years. The combined sentences total 70 years.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Narco boat' conspirators get combined 70 years as judge notes they 'totally underestimated' local communities and law enforcement. Charges or matters: taking part in a conspiracy to import controlled drugs between February 27th and March 14th 2024, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, as amended. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 27th Incident
- March 14th 2024 Incident
- 22 February Hearing Or Sentence
- 12 March 2024 Hearing Or Sentence
- 17 March Hearing Or Sentence
- 2025-12-11 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: taking part in a conspiracy to import controlled drugs between February 27th and March 14th 2024, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, as amended (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Aleksander Milic (28), Mario Angel Del Rio Sanz (46), Anuar Rahui Chairi (43), Juan Antonio Gallardo Barroso (56), Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega (37), and Angel Serran Padilla (41), were handed sentences ranging from 8 to 11 years each at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today for their parts in the failed drug smuggling operation. Another Spanish national who helped crew the boat, Juan Antonio Gallardo Barroso, was sentenced to eight years, as was Serbian national Aleksander Milic, the youngest of the group.
Defendant
Charges: taking part in a conspiracy to import controlled drugs between February 27th and March 14th 2024, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, as amended (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Angel Serran Padilla (41), were handed sentences ranging from 8 to 11 years each at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today for their parts in the failed drug smuggling operation. Padilla received a sentence of 11 years imprisonment and Ortega 10 years.
Defendant
Charges: taking part in a conspiracy to import controlled drugs between February 27th and March 14th 2024, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, as amended (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Anuar Rahui Chairi (43), Juan Antonio Gallardo Barroso (56), Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega (37), and Angel Serran Padilla (41), were handed sentences ranging from 8 to 11 years each at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today for their parts in the failed drug smuggling operation. Kiumaars Ghabiri, an Iranian national resident in the Netherlands, along with Mario Angel Del Rio Sanz and Anuar Rahui Chairi from Spain, who had all been on land during the attempted smuggling operation, each received 11 years imprisonment.
Defendant
Charges: taking part in a conspiracy to import controlled drugs between February 27th and March 14th 2024, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, as amended (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Juan Antonio Gallardo Barroso (56), Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega (37), and Angel Serran Padilla (41), were handed sentences ranging from 8 to 11 years each at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today for their parts in the failed drug smuggling operation. Another Spanish national who helped crew the boat, Juan Antonio Gallardo Barroso, was sentenced to eight years, as was Serbian national Aleksander Milic, the youngest of the group.
Convicted Person
Outcome: Kiumaars Ghabiri, an Iranian national resident in the Netherlands, along with Mario Angel Del Rio Sanz and Anuar Rahui Chairi from Spain, who had all been on land during the attempted smuggling operation, each received 11 years imprisonment.
Defendant
Charges: taking part in a conspiracy to import controlled drugs between February 27th and March 14th 2024, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, as amended (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Mario Angel Del Rio Sanz (46), Anuar Rahui Chairi (43), Juan Antonio Gallardo Barroso (56), Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega (37), and Angel Serran Padilla (41), were handed sentences ranging from 8 to 11 years each at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today for their parts in the failed drug smuggling operation. Kiumaars Ghabiri, an Iranian national resident in the Netherlands, along with Mario Angel Del Rio Sanz and Anuar Rahui Chairi from Spain, who had all been on land during the attempted smuggling operation, each received 11 years imprisonment.
Defendant
Charges: taking part in a conspiracy to import controlled drugs between February 27th and March 14th 2024, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, as amended (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega (37), and Angel Serran Padilla (41), were handed sentences ranging from 8 to 11 years each at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today for their parts in the failed drug smuggling operation. Padilla received a sentence of 11 years imprisonment and Ortega 10 years.
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
Topics
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