Man charged with 10.65 million euro cocaine in Ireland

A 61-year-old man named Michael Murphy has been charged with possession of cocaine worth over 10 million euros in Ireland. He appeared in Gorey District Court on Sunday evening. The drugs were seized on March 18 during an intelligence-led police operation. Detective Garda Sean Lane reported that Murphy, who is the transport manager for a haulage company in County Waterford, was arrested after the cocaine was discovered in a refrigerated unit of a truck at Dublin Port. The drugs weighed 152 kilograms and were valued at 10.65 million euros. During the investigation, police found not only the cocaine but also phones, tools, and GPS tracking devices. Some GPS equipment was located near the drug concealment area. Authorities believe the drugs were loaded in Spain and transported to Ireland for organized crime groups. In court, Murphy's solicitor described him as a widower with strong family ties and a business employing ten people. Despite this, the police argued that he has connections to other jurisdictions which could pose a flight risk. Judge Kevin Staunton acknowledged Murphy's family support but expressed serious concerns over the significant amount of drugs involved. The judge ultimately denied bail due to the evidence presented, emphasizing the seriousness of the offense. Murphy has the right to appeal the bail refusal and will return to court via video link on Tuesday.