Cannabis valued at €7.4m was allegedly found inside a shed and two vans in a field in Co Meath on Monday afternoon
Garreth Ryan – who appeared before a special sitting of Trim Court in relation to recent drugs seizure in Meath and Louth
Two men who were allegedly caught “red-handed” at a shed in Co Meath and other locations in the county where gardai discovered cannabis, cocaine and heroin with an estimated street value of €8.7 million, have been granted bail subject to strict conditions.
Cannabis valued at €7.4m was allegedly found inside a shed and two vans in a field at Woodcockstown, Drumree, Co Meath on Monday afternoon, August 3 following a major garda operation.
A storage unit at a location on the Louth/Meath border and a storage unit in Ashbourne, Co Meath were also searched where it’s alleged a further 38.5kg of cannabis and 1.5kg of cocaine were discovered as part of what a detective described in court as a ‘transnational organised crime operation.’
Taxi driver Garreth Ryan (38), of Drumree, Co Meath and carpenter Darren Callaghan (40) of an address in Co Meath that can’t be disclosed at the request of the court, appeared before Judge Susan Fay at Trim District Court on Wednesday evening.
Ryan is charged with possession of drugs contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act and possession of drugs for sale or supply contrary to Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act at Woodcockstown, Drumree, Co Meath on Monday, August 3.
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Callaghan is charged with four counts of Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act for possessing cannabis and heroin.
He is also charged with four counts of Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act for possessing cannabis and cocaine for sale or supply.
In a contested bail application, Detective Garda Val Russell told the court an operation was set up by the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau monitoring activity at a large shed on a 13-acre field at Woodcockstown, Drumree, Co Meath.
The court heard its alleged Ryan and Callaghan were observed at the Woodcockstown location on Monday, August 3.
It’s alleged Ryan arrived and entered the large shed while Callaghan was present wearing gloves and allegedly moving boxes from the shed into a van.
Ryan was allegedly observed using his mobile phone several times before leaving in a green Land Rover Discovery.
A search of the shed under warrant took place and a rented Renault Master van was located inside.
It’s alleged 23 large boxes containing suspected cannabis were found in the van.
A second van outside the shed, where Callaghan was arrested, also contained boxes of suspected cannabis, a small amount of cocaine and 3kg of heroin, it is alleged.
The court heard the shed was built by Ryan in the past year and was located on a large field belonging to Ryan.
Between the two vans, it’s alleged €7.4m worth of cannabis was discovered.
The court heard it’s alleged that at 3pm, Ryan returned in the Land Rover and was arrested by gardai.
It is alleged cash to the value of €1,150 in €50 notes was discovered in his wallet which was seized by gardai along with his mobile phone.
Det Russell said in a follow-up search of Ryan’s home in Drumree, €9,000 in €50 notes was allegedly discovered in his office.
Det Russell said that when Ryan was charged at 3.27pm on Wednesday at Ashbourne Garda Station he made no reply to either of the two charges.
Detective Garda Aidan Tighe said he charged Callaghan on Wednesday at 2.55pm at Ashbourne Garda Station and to two of his eight charges he replied: “I did not know there was heroin.”
He made no reply to the rest of the charges.
The court heard Callaghan was allegedly “using a number of locations and his home address for the preparation of drugs for the OCG.”
The court also heard there is a prospect both men may face further serious charges.
Both detectives objected to bail and said that “there is a significant loss to the organised crime group and they likely will seek to recoup the loss from the pair,” and believe both might be flight risks due to the serious nature of the charges.
Ryan, who was not represented by a solicitor due to the strike, said he is “willing to accept any bail condition.”
Det Tighe said Callaghan, who was also not represented by a solicitor, has a “very serious addiction to cocaine,” and does not show the trappings of wealth.
Addressing the judge Callaghan said he “doesn’t plan to move at all from the area. I am willing to do anything to get bail.”
Judge Susan Fay granted both men bail subject to strict conditions, including each providing a €20,000 independent surety, with €10,000 of that to be lodged in cash, a €500 personal bond, residence at their home addresses, daily signing on at named Garda stations, obeying curfews, providing Gardaí with mobile numbers, and having no contact with each other or any Garda witnesses.
Both men were remanded in custody to Cloverhill Prison with consent to bail once an independent surety is approved to appear before the court again on Tuesday, August 11.
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