Spanish national pleads guilty to conspiring to smuggle large quantity of drugs into Ireland

At the non-jury, three-judge Special Criminal Court today, Juan Antonio Gallardo Barroso (56), of no fixed address in Spain, was arraigned on one count, that he did conspire with his 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. The offence is contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977.

He pleaded guilty to the charge, with the matter put back by Ms Justice Karen O’Connor, presiding, to July 21 next for sentencing.

On that date, co-accused Mario Angel Del Rio Sanz (45) of no fixed abode but from Spain; Anuar Rahui Chairi (42) of Malaga in Spain; and Aleksandar Milic (27) with an address in Belgrade in Serbia, are also listed for sentencing, having pleaded guilty to a similar charge of conspiring with others to import drugs.

A further six men are charged in connection with the case. They are Kiumaars Ghabiri (52) with an address in Rotterdam in the Netherlands; Ali Ghasemi Mazidi (50), with an address in the Netherlands; Sean Curran (37), with an address at Carrickyheenan, Aughnacloy, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh; Raul Tabares Garcia (48), of Cadiz in Spain; Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega (36) of Cadiz; and Angel Serran Padilla (40) of Malaga.

The men were arrested by gardai in March last year during operations in the villages of Tragumna and Leap near Skibbereen in west Cork, where a jeep, camper van, articulated truck, and rigid inflatable boat were seized as part of the suspected drug smuggling operation.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 9th