Croatian truck driver remanded over €2.1m cannabis seizure at Port of Cork
Robert Slivar, a 59-year-old Croatian man of no fixed abode formerly from Ivanic, Croatia, was arrested on 27 July 2025 after 93 packages of herbal cannabis weighing 107kg and valued at €2.1 million were found in a trailer at the Port of Cork, Ringaskiddy, that had originated in Croatia and disembarked a vessel arriving from Zeebrugge, Belgium. The seizure was made as a result of risk-profiling in a joint operation by the Cork Divisional Drugs Unit and Revenue's Customs Service, with the cannabis discovered with the assistance of detector dog Rua. Slivar was charged with possession of cannabis and possession of cannabis for sale or supply under sections 3 and 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 and appeared before a special sitting of Cork District Court on 2 August 2025. Judge John King refused bail citing the seriousness of the charges, the strength of the evidence, and flight risk, and remanded Slivar in custody to appear by video link on 20 August 2025 for DPP directions.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested27 Jul
3 reports - Chargednot reported
- In court27 Jul
4 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- 93 packages of herbal cannabis weighing 107kg with an estimated value of €2.1 million were seized.
- Robert Slivar, a 59-year-old Croatian man of no fixed abode formerly from Ivanic, Croatia, was arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.
- Where
- The cannabis was found in a trailer at the Port of Cork, Ringaskiddy, that had originated in Croatia and disembarked a vessel arriving from Zeebrugge, Belgium.
- When
- The seizure took place on 27 July 2025.
- Investigation
- The seizure was made as a result of risk-profiling in a joint operation by the Cork Divisional Drugs Unit and Revenue's Customs Service, with the cannabis discovered with the assistance of detector dog Rua.
- Charges
- Slivar was charged with possession of cannabis and possession of cannabis for sale or supply, contrary to sections 3 and 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977.
- In court
- He appeared before a special sitting of Cork District Court on 2 August 2025, where he made no reply to the charges after caution.
- Judge John King refused bail on the basis of the seriousness of the charges, the strength of the evidence, and flight risk due to no ties to Ireland, and remanded Slivar in custody.
- Slivar was remanded to appear by video link on 20 August 2025 for DPP directions, and free legal aid was assigned.
- Other details
- Defence solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher told the court that Slivar maintains his innocence, and a Croatian interpreter assisted throughout the hearing.
68 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man in his 50s was arrested following the seizure of cannabis at the Port of Cork (garda.ie)
- whatApproximately 107kg of herbal cannabis was seized (garda.ie)
- whatThe cannabis had an estimated value of €2.1 million (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatApproximately 107kg of herbal cannabis was seized at the Port of Cork. (garda.ie)
- whatThe estimated street value of the cannabis is €2.1 million. (garda.ie)
- whatA total of 93 packages were concealed in the truck. (garda.ie)
- whatThe total weight of the packages was 107.2kg. (garda.ie)
- what107kg of herbal cannabis was seized (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe cannabis was stashed in a trailer (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man in his 50s was arrested by Gardaí (irishmirror.ie)
- what93 packets containing 107kg of herbal cannabis were found at Cork port (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe cannabis was valued at €2.1 million (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe cannabis was found in a truck originating from Croatia (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe truck had disembarked a vessel arriving from Zeebrugge in Belgium (irishtimes.com)
- whatA man in his 50s was arrested (irishtimes.com)
- what93 packets containing 107kg of herbal cannabis were seized (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe herbal cannabis had an estimated value of €2.1 million (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe cannabis was found in a trailer (irishmirror.ie)
- whatRobert Slivar is 59, of no fixed abode but from Ivanic, Croatia. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe arrived in Cork by ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRobert Slivar is 59 years old, of no fixed abode, and formerly from Ivanic in Croatia. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSlivar travelled to Cork by ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe seizure took place at the Port of Cork (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe trailer had originated in Croatia (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe trailer had disembarked a vessel arriving from Zeebrugge (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe man is being detained at a Southern Region Garda Station (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe man is being held at a Garda station in the Southern Region (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe cannabis was seized at the Port of Cork (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe cannabis was seized at the Port of Cork, Ringaskiddy, on 27 July. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe seizure occurred on 27 July 2025 (garda.ie)
- whenThe court appearance was on 2 August 2025 (garda.ie)
- whenThe seizure occurred on Sunday, 27 July 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe cannabis was seized on Sunday, 27 July 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA man in his 50s was arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe seizure was made as a result of risk-profiling (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe cannabis was discovered with the assistance of detector dog Rua (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe seizures are part of Revenue's ongoing operations targeting organised crime groups (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe drugs were discovered with the assistance of detector dog Rua (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe seizure was the result of a joint Garda and Revenue operation (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe seizure forms part of Revenue's ongoing operations targeting organised crime groups (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe discovery was made by a sniffer dog, customs officers and gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe man has been charged (garda.ie)
- chargeThe man is detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeA man in his 50s was arrested under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe was charged with two offences relating to the seizure of 93 packages of herbal cannabis weighing 107kg valued at €2.1 million. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was charged with cannabis possession and possession for sale or supply under sections 3 and 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was charged with two offences relating to the seizure of 93 packages of herbal cannabis weighing 107kg. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe charges are contrary to section 3 and section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe man appeared before a special sitting of Cork District Court (garda.ie)
- courtThe man appeared before a special sitting of Cork District Court on Saturday, 2 August 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe was brought before a special sitting of Cork District Court on Saturday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDet Garda Ryan Dillon of the Cork city divisional drugs unit gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. (irishtimes.com)
- courtSlivar made no reply to either charge when put to him after caution outside Togher Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDefence solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher said his client was seeking bail and was assisted by a Croatian interpreter. (irishtimes.com)
- courtObjections to bail cited the seriousness of charges, strength of evidence, and flight risk due to no ties to Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge John King refused bail and remanded Slivar in custody to appear again at a special sitting of Cork District Court on Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge requested a statement of means before deciding whether to grant free legal aid. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDet Garda Ryan Dillon objected to bail citing the strength of evidence and seriousness of the charge. (irishtimes.com)
- courtSlivar made no reply after each charge was put to him under caution. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDefence solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher told Judge John King that his client maintains his innocence. (irishtimes.com)
- courtFree legal aid was assigned to Slivar. (irishtimes.com)
- courtSlivar was assisted throughout the hearing by a Croatian interpreter. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDPP directions were still outstanding at the time of the hearing. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge King remanded Slivar in custody to appear by video link on 20 August for directions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe truck had arrived from Belgium. (garda.ie)
- otherThe trailer had disembarked a vessel arriving from Zeebrugge port in Belgium (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man was detained at a Southern Region Garda Station (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 6 Aug2025Man (59) charged over €2.1m Cork drug seizure ‘maintaining his innocence’, court hears
Details of the court hearing at which Slivar was remanded in custody, including the specific charges, the seizure details, his travel route, and the court's decision to remand him for a directions hearing on 20 August 2025.
suspect, Robert Slivar, 59, male, Croatian, named, non-irishRobert Slivar - 3 Aug2025Croatian truck driver remanded in custody over €2 million drugs haul in Cork
Details of the bail hearing at Cork District Court, including the specific statutory charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, the method of discovery by sniffer dog, the ferry arrival from Zeebrugge, and Judge John King's refusal of bail with a request for a statement of means.
suspect, Robert Slivar, 59, male, Croatian, named, non-irishRobert Slivar - 2 Aug2025Man appears in court after over €2m worth of cannabis stashed in trailer seized
Confirms the man appeared before a special sitting of Cork District Court on 2 August 2025; adds details that the cannabis was found via risk-profiling with detector dog Rua, in a trailer that had originated in Croatia and disembarked a vessel from Zeebrugge, Belgium.
suspect, 50s, male - 28 Jul2025Man arrested as herbal cannabis valued at more than €2m seized at Cork port
Reports the initial arrest and provides additional seizure details including the use of detector dog Rua, the truck's Croatian origin, and the vessel's arrival from Zeebrugge, Belgium.
suspect, 50s, male - 28 Jul2025Man arrested after over €2m worth of cannabis in trailer seized at Irish port
Reports the initial arrest and seizure details, including the use of detector dog Rua, the trailer's Croatian origin, and the vessel's arrival from Zeebrugge.
suspect, 50s, male - 27 Jul2025Joint Operation - Gardaí and Revenue seize €2.1m Worth of Cannabis, Port of Cork, 27th July 2025
Garda press release confirming the seizure details: 93 packages, 107.2kg total weight, truck arrived from Belgium, joint operation by Cork Divisional Drugs Unit and Revenue's Customs Service, and the arrest of a man in his 50s detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.
suspect, 50s, male - 27 Jul2025Update - Joint Operation - Gardaí and Revenue seize €2.1m Worth of Cannabis, Port of Cork, 27th July 2025
Confirms the man has been charged and appeared before a special sitting of Cork District Court on 2 August 2025; investigations are ongoing.
suspect, 50s, male