THREE people, including a Venezuelan woman, charged with importing the largest quantity of cocaine ever seized by the State, claimed they were not aware their vessel had drugs on board when their case came before Riverstown District Court yesterday.
Five people face a maximum sentence of life in prison if found guilty of possession of the cocaine for supply and of the importation of cocaine into the State on September 29th, 1996. Some 647kg of the drug was seized on their vessel, the Sea Mist, in Cork Harbour.
They were returned for trial to Cork Circuit Criminal Court on February 4th. All are in custody.
Mr Joe Cuddigan, for Ms Theresa Bernadette de Silva Roy (19) from Puerto de la Cruz, Venezuela, said that, according to the book of evidence, she was on board when the drugs were delivered. But she did not realise the cargo was drugs.
Mr Diarmuid Kelleher, for Mr Howard Miller (37), from Ambleside, Cumbria, England, said his client was not aware there were drugs on board.
Mr Brendan Herlihy, for Mr James Noel (51), from St Lucia, West Indies, said his client was an employee who arrived on the vessel in Trinidad when the drugs already been hidden on board.
Mr Gerry McCarthy, for Mr Roman Smollen (50), also from St Lucia, said his client was not properly before the court because there was a four-hour delay between him being arrested and being charged.
Judge Clifford ruled against Mr Smollen and returned him with the other three and Mr Gordon Richards (52), from Brighton, England, for trial on February 4th.