A man who appeared before the District Court charged in connection with the seizure of cocaine worth an estimated €504,000, in a case with possible links to a Spanish cartel, has been refused bail.
The court heard that the package alleged to have contained the cocaine was tracked using an Apple AirTag and collected after the accused was directed to intercept an An Post driver in a Tesco car park at Ballybrack Shopping Centre in Loughlinstown, Co Dublin.
Anthony O’Callaghan (36), of Ashlawn Park, Ballybrack, Co Dublin is charged with both possession of cocaine and possession of the drug for sale or supply at his home on April 21 last.
Detective Garda Sean Blanchfield told Judge Anne Watkin that Mr O’Callaghan was arrested at his home following a search and drug seizure and brought to Shankill Garda Station, where he was later charged and made no reply after caution.
The court heard the package containing the drugs had originally been due to be delivered to Mr O’Callaghan’s home, but no one was there to accept it and an An Post notification was issued instead.
Garda Blanchfield said the sender had placed an Apple AirTag inside the package, allowing a Spanish phone number allegedly in contact with the accused to track its location and direct him to the Tesco car park at Ballybrack Shopping Centre, where the An Post driver was located.
The court heard Mr O’Callaghan approached the driver and asked for the package after providing the required details.
Det Gda Blanchfield said there was no suggestion of wrongdoing or involvement by the An Post driver and compared the delivery to “any Amazon delivery driver” handing over a package once the correct details were given.
He said Mr O’Callaghan initially told gardaí he did not know where the package had come from, but later claimed he was holding it in return for payment.
Det Gda Blanchfield said the evidence suggested Mr O’Callaghan had active participation in the alleged offence.
He objected to bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act and under the O’Callaghan rules.
Defence solicitor, Andrew Vallely, said that his client was a full-time carer for his mother and had a son in the jurisdiction.
Counsel argued there was no reason to believe Mr O’Callaghan would interfere with any potential witness and that bail conditions could address any concerns.
Judge Watkin described the case as a “very significant drug charge” involving a “hugely significant amount of cocaine”, and noted it would ultimately go to the Circuit Court.
She said the case pointed to possible links to organised crime at an international level, including a drug gang or cartel in Spain, and that the accused may be dealing with “a criminal organisation that want their drugs back”.
Judge Watkin refused bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act, citing the seriousness of the charges, the strength of the evidence and the likelihood of further offending.
She remanded Mr O’Callaghan in custody to appear before Cloverhill District Court on Tuesday, April 28 at 10.30am.
Mr Vallely requested that his client be given prescription medication for anxiety while in custody.