A “HIGH-STAKES” plot to smuggle cocaine worth more than £200 million (€229 million) was foiled when a boat carrying the consignment was shipwrecked off the Irish coast, a court in London was told yesterday.
Details of the conspiracy were outlined at the opening of the trial of a man accused of helping the botched operation by allegedly providing three 4x4 vehicles which were used by the gang.
John Edney (57), of Main Road, Sutton-at-Hone, Kent, denies conspiracy to supply cocaine. It is alleged that on or before July 9th, 2007, he conspired with Michael Daly, Alan Wells and others to supply the drug.
Daly (49), a retired Met police officer who organised the logistics, and Wells (56), have both pleaded guilty to their part in the conspiracy, prosecuting counsel Mark Gadsden told the jury.
A further three men – Perry Wharrie, Martin Wanden and Joe Daly – were convicted in Cork while a fourth – Gerard Hagan – pleaded guilty at the start of the trial, he said.
The gang behind the operation arranged for the 62 bales of the drug – a total of 1,554kg – to be transferred from a catamaran which had crossed the Atlantic from the Caribbean to a rigid inflatable boat (rib) in order to land it at a remote point on the southwest coast. But the vessel ran out of fuel in force six gales and foundered on the rocks on July 2nd, 2007, before it reached its destination, Blackfriars Crown Court was told.
Two men swam ashore while another had to be rescued by a lifeboat and helicopter when the rib sank, as the washed-up drugs packages were retrieved from the sea.
Mr Gadsden said “the conspirators planned to import this extremely lucrative consignment of cocaine via the Republic of Ireland for onward distribution in the UK. However, their very carefully laid plans went awry when the rib which was being used to ferry the drugs ashore got into difficulties in heavy seas and foundered in Dunlough Bay just off Mizen Head in the south westerly tip of Ireland in Co Cork on July 2nd, 2007 – jettisoning its occupants and its very valuable cargo into the sea”.
Mr Gadsden told the jury of six men and six women Daly was “pivotal” to the conspiracy, organising the logistics, purchasing the RHIB and a rescue vessel and finding “safe houses”.
The case continues. – (PA)