Men seen acting suspiciously in Laois with Eastern European drug gang dealer refused bail
Portlaoise District Court
TWO men whom gardaí alleged were seen acting suspiciously with a known Eastern European drug gang dealer in Portlaoise were brought before a sitting of the local district court on Monday, last 14 April, on drug related offences.
Both men were before the court charged with possessing cocaine and amphetamine for their own use and for sale or supply on 12 April at the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise.
As the bail hearing got underway, gardaí alleged they found 1kg of amphetamine and 1/2kg of cocaine during the search of a secret compartment behind a radio console in a car and that one of the men was also allegedly found in possession of €22,500 in cash.
Before the court were Polish national Arkadiusz Czarnohorski (48), Apartment 18, Deerpark Road, Kiltipper, Tallaght, Dublin 14 and Lithuanian national Algimantas Mikstriunas (34) of no fixed abode.
Det garda Neil Slevin told the court that, following arrest, Mr Czarnohorski was taken to Portlaoise Garda Station, charged and cautioned, to which he replied to the charge “no reply.” Det Slevin alleged that at 6.30pm he “saw two men acting suspiciously with a known transnational drug dealer from an Eastern Europe crime gang. As they were about to get into an Opal Insignia car, we found cocaine and amphetamine in a secret compartment behind a radio console in it.” He alleged the quantity of drugs found, subject to analysis, is worth about €50,000, “but could be much, much higher if it all turns out to be cocaine.” He said that Mr Mikstriunas was found with two bundles of €10,000 notes and another bundle amounting to €500.
Det Slevin alleged that Mr Czarnohorski told gardaí that he had previously worked as a courier but had gotten into debt over drugs, amounting to about €35,000. He alleged that Mr Czarnohorski told him that he was now working as “a full-time courier transporting drugs, cash and people and that his drug debt was down to about €7,000, but he still has a cocaine habit.” Det Slevin also alleged that Mr Czarnohorski also told gardaí the pricing structures paid to couriers for transporting drugs around the country.
Det garda Joe Fahy also gave evidence of the arrest of Mr Mikstriunas and when he was taken to Tullamore Garda Station, charged and cautioned, that he, too, replied “no reply.” Det Fahy said that he allegedly found €25,000 in a gym bag that the defendant had been holding at the time.
He alleged that Mr Mikstriunas “was part of a crime gang operating internationally.” Under questioning from defence barrister Paul Noctor, det Fahy said that Mr Mikstriunas had “no drugs on his person.” Det Fahy said that the accused said that he had the €22,500 from the sale of empty beer barrels.
“There’s a Russian mafia scam that is similar to this,” said det Fahy, who added: “He said that he could not put the money into any bank here and that the money had to go through Belfast. He said the money on him was legitimate.” Mr Noctor said that his client “vehemently denies the charges. He had nothing to do with drugs. Yes, he had €22,500. He deals in beer kegs. He transports them back to London, on to Lithuania and then on to Russia. He carries large amounts of cash with him.” Refusing bail, Judge Susan Fay remanded both defendants in custody to appear at Portlaoise District Court at a later date.
