THREE BRITONS have been remanded in continuing custody after they appeared in court yesterday charged in connection with a €500 million cocaine seizure by the Navy, Garda and Customs in an operation off the west Cork coast last week.
Philip Doo (52), Christopher Wiggins (42) and David Mufford (44) were brought before Kinsale District Court yesterday morning. They had been remanded to appear there by Judge James McNulty after they were charged last Saturday at Clonakilty District Court.
All three are charged that on November 5th last, on the ship Dances with Waves, a ship not registered in any country or territory, they had 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 yesterday applied for a continuing remand in custody for all three men, to appear at Schull District Court.
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 at Schull District Court on November 27th.
None of the three spoke during the brief hearing.
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.