Men charged over State’s biggest drug seizure to be tried at the Special Criminal Court

Cumali Ozgen: one of five crew members facing charges relating to the seizure of more than 2.2 tonnes of cocaine on the MV Matthew worth an estimated €157 million. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Today all five appeared amid tight security at Mallow District Court where Insp Tony O’Sullivan said that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed trial by indictment at the Special Criminal Court for all five and he applied for a continuing remand in custody until May 21st. They are charged that they did with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, participate in, or contribute to activity intending to or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by that criminal organisation.

He said it was possible the book of evidence would be ready by next Tuesday, but the new criminal organisation charge required a ministerial order from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin and he was not sure if Minister Martin would be in the country to sign the order by May 14th. Solicitor David O’Meara for Mr Gavryk and barristers, Nicholas Hall BL for Mr Ozgen and Ross Pratt O’Brien BL for Mr Vlasoi expressed similar dissatisfaction with the State application with the latter saying it would be mean there would be a delay in the case reaching the Special Criminal Court.

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