Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SUN, SEA & SEMTEX
Court told Duffy taped in Spanish arms deal sting
A COVERT recording of a chat allegedly between a republican and an undercover security agent was played in court yesterday.
Colin Duffy, 52, is on trial with two other men on charges arising from a gun attack on police in December 2013.
Four months before, the Crown alleges he spoke in Santa Ponsa with a businessman about weaponry, prices and transport of items.
It is the Crown’s case the recording is Duffy talking to an MI6 agent.
At Belfast Crown Court it was alleged UM1 is Goran/the agents while UM2 is Duffy.
UM2 told UM1 he heard him talking to another man about tanks. UM2 said: “I don’t want the tank. Something else, could you sell it to me?”
When UM1 mentioned “tons ... back home”, UM2 asked ‘“Are we talking explosives, detonators?” When UM1 said Semtex, UM2 said: “Semtex, you can get that?”
UM2 talked about a “serious deal” then told the other man said: “I’m looking RPGS.” After discussing which types, UM2 said “Give me a price.”
UM1 said: “I have only Eastern Europe Semtex.”
UM1 said: “If you go for big quantities you will burn because, not only because of shipping but intelligence.” UM2 said:
“I wouldn’t move it in big quantities.” When UM2 was asked if he knew how to use RPGS, he said: “Yes.”
Also discussed were snipers and grenades, with UM2 asking if they can penetrate armour.
He said: “I would be happy enough for Semtex, cortex, detonator cord, detonators, RPGS and if you can deal with AKS.”
When UM1 said “AKS no problem,” UM2 replied, “That’s the basic type of stuff we’re talking about. If we can do a deal, we can do a deal.” When UM1 spoke of being “prepared to spend” UM2 replied “That isn’t a problem.”
UM2 then said: “If you can do a good amount sitting for 200, 200 grand right and then we can take it in small batches.”
At one point near the end of the conversation, UM2 asked the other man: “You’re not bullsh***ing me now, you can do that type of stuff?’, then UM1 gave him his mobile number.
When UM1 asked UM2 if he had the “thing” to test the “dets”, UM2 replied “We’re trying to make the f***ing things homemade and they’re not reliable. We need instantaneous f***ing commercial electric detonators.”
The trial continues.