Dublin men charged after €2m drug seizure linked to organised crime gang

Two men appeared in Dublin District Court after gardaí intercepted a handover of 18kg of cocaine in Blanchardstown. A follow-up search uncovered further drugs, bringing the total seizure to nearly €2m.

Two Dublin men face court over €2 million cocaine and MDMA seizures

Two men have appeared before Dublin District Court on charges related to the seizure of more than €2 million worth of controlled drugs over the weekend, Google News IE — Crime (en) reports.

David Royle, 62, of Crumlin Road, Dublin, faces three counts of possession of drugs for sale and supply and three counts of simple possession. His co-accused, Tomaz Nowosad, 53, of Knightsgate, Rush, was charged with two counts of possession for sale and supply and two counts of possession.

The Blanchardstown interception

Garda Stephen Byrne, giving evidence, told the court that the Dublin Crime Response Team had observed and intercepted both men during a handover of controlled substances near a shop on Waterville Road, Blanchardstown, on Friday.

He alleged that Nowosad had been seen removing a Smyths shopping bag from his own car and placing it in the boot of Royle's vehicle after the two had parked side by side. Gardaí moved in and found the bag contained 18 kilograms of cocaine, valued at €1.8 million at €100 per gram.

A subsequent search of Royle's home address uncovered a further four kilograms of suspected cannabis — valued at approximately €56,000 — and around 5,000 MDMA or ecstasy tablets valued at approximately €50,000. The combined total for Royle's charges came to roughly €1,906,000.

Royle's barrister, Patrick Flynn BL, asked Garda Byrne whether the price of cocaine had risen. The garda confirmed it had increased from a previous rate of €70 per gram.

Royle's alleged admissions

Garda Byrne said Royle had been interviewed on several occasions and made admissions relating to his involvement in the sale and supply of controlled substances. He described the accused as showing no remorse.

According to the garda, Royle stated: "I'm not sorry I did it, I'm sorry I got caught." Byrne further alleged Royle admitted to working as a courier paid between €200 and €300 per kilogram, and expressed the view that had he known the full quantity of cocaine involved, he would have demanded more money.

It was Garda Byrne's opinion that Royle was "a trusted member of an organised crime gang involved in large-scale distribution of controlled drugs in the Dublin metropolitan region."

Flynn told the court his client had no recollection of making the specific statements attributed to him and noted that video recordings of the interviews were not available at the sitting. He said Royle, who worked as an IT technician earning around €65,000 per year, had become involved at a time when he was sleeping rough and had not anticipated the volume of drugs concerned. Royle has one adult daughter and an 11-year-old daughter, in whose life he is said to play a "very active role."

Nowosad's separate hearing

In a later hearing for Nowosad, Garda Colin Byrne said a search of his vehicle had uncovered a further two kilograms of cocaine. An additional seven kilograms of an unidentified substance were also located, though that material had not yet been tested and no charges related to it were before the court.

An encrypted Graphene phone was also seized, which gardaí believe was used in connection with drug distribution.

Garda Colin Byrne told the court that the 22 bricks of suspected cocaine connected to Nowosad's charges carried an estimated value of €2.2 million. Flynn noted, however, that only one brick had been tested at the time of the hearing and the final valuation could be lower.

Flynn also disputed the allegation that Nowosad had admitted awareness that he was transporting drugs, saying his instructions were that the accused had made no such admission. He said Nowosad, a Polish national who has lived in Ireland for approximately 20 years, was supported in court by his partner and son. The court heard he resides in social housing and is in receipt of social welfare. Nowosad availed of a Polish interpreter throughout the proceedings.

Bail conditions and remand

Judge Stephanie Coggins remanded Royle in custody at Cloverhill Prison with consent to bail. His conditions include his own bond of €10,000 with a €5,000 cash lodgement, an independent surety of €5,000, signing on three times per week at Kevin Street Garda Station, abstaining from intoxicating substances, surrendering his passport, observing a curfew, and maintaining no contact with prosecution witnesses. He is next due to be produced on Friday.

Judge Mark O'Connell similarly remanded Nowosad in custody at Cloverhill until Friday with consent to bail on strict conditions, including surrendering his passport, signing on three times a week at Balbriggan Garda Station, lodging €5,000 in cash, and providing a €5,000 independent surety.

Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)