Case No. 2703Possession of controlled drugs for sale or supply (cocaine), importation of controlled drugs · Co. Limerick · 19 Dec 2023
Bulgarian man jailed for 10 years over €21.6m cocaine smuggling from Brazil to Foynes
Kamen Petkov, 36, a Bulgarian electrician, was sentenced to 10 years at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court for smuggling 308.6 kilos of cocaine worth €21.6 million on the MV Verila from Brazil to Foynes Port in December 2023. Judge Colin Daly reduced the sentence from a 15-year headline term in recognition of Petkov's guilty plea, cooperation, and good character.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced17 Dec
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports33 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe cocaine was worth €21.6 million (irishtimes.com)
- whatPetkov told gardaí he was to be paid €150,000 for managing the drug shipment (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatPetkov had a gambling debt of €37,000 (irishtimes.com)
- whatKamen Petkov, 36, from Bulgaria, pleaded guilty to importing €21m worth of pure cocaine to Ireland. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe cocaine was smuggled on the MV Verila, which sailed from Antoniana Port, Brazil to Foynes Port, Co Limerick, on December 19, 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe ship had sailed from Brazil via Canada, carrying sugar and grain. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCustoms officials discovered 12 large bales of cocaine hidden in an air-conditioning room on board the ship. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe 12 bales contained 308.6 kilos of cocaine, wrapped into 306 separate packages, valued at €21,604,891. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatPetkov hid the drugs underneath beds in unoccupied cabins on the ship. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatPetkov tied the drug bales together with rope and attached life jackets and a transmitter. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe was given a mobile phone to stay in touch with drug dealers in Bolivia and Paraguay. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatPetkov did not make the drop at Glin because he became worried when he could not see anybody there to collect the drugs. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe MV Verila sailed from Antoniana Port, Brazil, to Foynes Port, Co Limerick (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe drugs were found hidden in an air-conditioning room after the vessel docked at Foynes Port (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe ship journeyed to Santos Port, Brazil, and Hamilton Port, Canada, before reaching Foynes, county Limerick. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereHe was instructed to drop the cocaine bales overboard when the ship reached Glin Pier, county Limerick. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenPetkov was arrested on 22 December 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe ship sailed on 19 December 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- whenPetkov was arrested on December 22, 2023, three days after the ship docked. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationPetkov was apprehended after the ship was searched by Irish customs officers using sniffer dogs (irishtimes.com)
- investigationIrish Customs officers, acting on a confidential tip-off, searched the vessel after it docked at Foynes Port. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe sentence was delivered at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court by Judge Colin Daly (irishtimes.com)
- courtDet Garda Adrian Cahill of the Limerick divisional drugs unit gave evidence (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe sentence was delivered by Judge Colin Daly at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentencePetkov was jailed for 10 years (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe prison sentence was backdated to 22 December 2023, the date he first entered custody (irishtimes.com)
- sentencePetkov was jailed for 10 years at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJudge Daly considered a headline sentence of 15 years appropriate but reduced it to 10 years. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe prescriptive mandatory minimum for possession of drugs worth €13,000 or more is 10 years. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherPetkov had no previous convictions (irishtimes.com)
- otherPetkov is a married father of one (irishtimes.com)
- otherPetkov was a qualified electrician who regularly worked five-month contracts at sea on cargo ships. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherPetkov told Gardaí it was his first time being involved in smuggling drugs and that he had not received any payment. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 17 Dec2024Man who smuggled cocaine with €105m street value to Ireland jailed for 10 years
Full sentencing report detailing the 10-year term, the judge's reasoning, the smuggling route from Brazil via Canada to Foynes, and the circumstances of the arrest and discovery of the drugs.
convicted, Kamen Petkov, 36, male, Bulgarian, named, non-irishKamen Petkov - 17 Dec2024Man jailed for 10 years after admitting smuggling €21.6m cocaine on cargo ship from Brazil
Provides sentencing details including Judge Daly's remarks, Petkov's stated reward of €150,000, his €37,000 gambling debt, the forensic assessment of the cocaine as pure with a street value of €105 million, and that he was a married father of one with no previous convictions.
convicted, Kamen Petkov, 36, male, Bulgarian, named, non-irishKamen Petkov