Three Britons have been remanded in continuing custody after they appeared in court today charged in connection with a €500 million cocaine seizure by Navy, gardai and Customs officials in a joint operation off the west Cork coast last week.
Philip Doo (52), Christopher Wiggins (42) and David Mufford (44) were brought before Kinsale District Court this morning, having been remanded to appear there by Judge James McNulty after they were charged last Saturday at Clonakilty District Court.
All three men are charged that on November 5th on the vessel Dances with Waves, a boat not registered in any country or territory, they were in possession of cocaine knowing it was intended to be imported contrary to the law of any state outside the State.
The offence, which is contrary to Section 34 (2) & (4) of the Criminal Justice Drugs Trafficking Act 1994, carries a maximum penalty upon conviction at circuit court level of a fine or a term of imprisonment not exceeding seven years or both.
Insp Brendan Fogarty applied for a continuing remand in custody in respect of all three men to appear again at Schull District Court and solicitors for the three, Flor Murphy and Myra Dineen said they were not seeking bail and were consenting to the application.
Judge McNulty granted the State’s application and remanded Mr Doo from Brixham, Devon, Mr Mufford from Torquay, Devon and Mr Wiggins with an address at Estepona, Malaga, Spain in continuing custody to appear again at Schull District Court on November 27th.
None of the three accused spoke during the brief hearing and they were taken from the court under armed Garda escort immediately after their case was dealt with by Judge McNulty at the start of the scheduled sitting.