11 men face court over €57m fake cigs factory
ELEVEN men yesterday appeared before a court charged over a huge illegal cigarette factory.
A Garda inspector told the hearing his officers recovered 25 million cigarettes with an estimated value of €57million.
Martin Beggy added the operation at Killen in Jenkinstown, Dundalk, Co Louth, reflected a loss to the Exchequer of €45million.
Appearing at Drogheda District Court were Lithuanians Vytautas Pelenis, 33, Mindaugas Pelenis, 35, Evaldas Simonelis, 48, Giederius Palciauskas, 28, Rumuras Butkevicius, 41, Javaras Kairys, 34, and 27-year-olds Tomas Jarutis and Vytautas Sakinis.
Also in the dock were Boti Panicharsti, 62, Yordan Shopski, 51, and 46-year-old Petar Petrov who are all Bulgarian.
They all face two charges contrary to the Finance Act 2005 that they were concerned with the processing of an illicit tobacco product. The second charge alleges that on the same date and location they processed an illicit tobacco product.
Both offences are contrary to section 78A (1) (a) of the Finance Act 2005.
In all cases Inspector Beggy said the DPP was directing trial on indictment in the [higher] circuit court and remands in custody were being sought. Books of evidence will be needed.
Barrister Irene Sands represented seven of the 11 accused. None of her clients made an application for bail and all were remanded in custody by consent to appear at Cloverhill District Court next Thursday.
Solicitor Barry Callan represented two of the defendants who also did not make any bail application.
Solicitor Roisin Courtney applied for bail for two of the accused. In relation to Sakinis, she said his mother has lived in Naas, Co Kildare, for 11 years.
Opposing bail, gardai said he was a flight risk. Judge John Coughlan refused to bail him and Tomas Jarutis and all accused were remanded in custody.
■ A 28-year-old man is being held at Dundalk Garda station over the discovery of €90,000 worth of cannabis wrapped in blankets in a package from Canada.
Cigs seized