Five men charged with conspiring to import drugs in Kerry

Updated / Friday, 17 Jan 2025 21:20

Five men have been before a special district court sitting in Killarney charged in connection with a joint garda and revenue customs operation off the Kerry coast earlier this week.

All five face a single charge of conspiring to import drugs with a value of more than €13,000 into the State between last Saturday and Monday.

The men are: 30-year-old Conor Costello with an address at Earhart Park, Madamsbank Road, Derry; 45-year old Miljan Koprivica, an Eastern European with an address in Manchester; 31-year old Ryan Watson, and 40-year old Gary Monks, both with addresses in Glasgow.

The fifth man is Feljon Lao, who is 28.

The court was told he is a Filipino seaman on $200 per week and he works on board a cargo ship which was searched in the Shannon Estuary on Wednesday.

An interpreter was sworn in to assist Mr Lao.

All five were granted free legal aid.

They were remanded in custody and will be back before the district court in Tralee next Wednesday.

Gardaí say their investigation is continuing.