A 49-year-old Dutch man in Ireland has been sentenced to twenty years in prison for cocaine smuggling. He confessed. Seven other men have also been sentenced to prison.
In September 2023, 2,200 kilos of cocaine were seized during a joint operation by the police, customs, and armed forces. It was the largest cocaine find in Irish history, with a total value of 157 million euros.
The smugglers transported the drugs on a freighter and ignored instructions from the Irish Navy up to five times. They tried to burn the drugs on board, but failed before the navy came aboard. The smugglers were then arrested, writes the Irish public broadcaster RTE.
Upon his arrest, the Dutchman initially said he was paid to cook, clean, and maintain the ship. But he later admitted that he knew there was illegal cargo involved and that he was entitled to a $100,000 bonus if he got the job done.
He had never been convicted of a criminal offense before. In court, the Dutchman said he made “risky choices” to pay for his 27-year-old son’s care costs. His son has undergone cancer surgery.
Seven other suspects have been sentenced to prison terms between 13.5 and 20 years. These include three Ukrainians, two Iranians, a Briton and a Filipino.