The Special Criminal Court was told yesterday that two former protected witnesses, Charles Bowden and Russell Warren, were outside the jurisdiction and were unavailable to give evidence.
The court was hearing an application by the State to confiscate the assets of the convicted drugs dealer, John Gilligan (49).
It ruled last month that Bowden and Warren had relevant evidence to give in the court's decision on whether Gilligan benefited from drug-trafficking.
Bowden and Warren were released from prison last year after giving evidence under the Witness Protection Programme at several trials connected with Gilligan's drugs gang and the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin.
The hearing into Gilligan's assets was adjourned to allow the State to ascertain the whereabouts of the two witnesses.
But yesterday Mr Peter Charleton SC, for the State, said Bowden and Warren were outside the jurisdiction and under no compulsion to return home and were not available to give evidence.
The court adjourned the hearing until February 18th when it will hear closing submissions.
The court has been told by the Assistant Garda Commissioner, Mr Tony Hickey, that Gilligan made a gross profit of more than €46.98 million from importing about 19,000 kg of cannabis resin over two years.
He said Gilligan's net profit was €17.81 million.