Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 4071Conspiracy to import controlled drugs (cocaine) · Co. Clare · 18 Dec 2024

Former British soldier Gary Monks heard at Special Criminal Court over €42m cocaine smuggling

Gary Monks, 41, a former British soldier from Glasgow, was described at the Special Criminal Court as playing a 'logistical' role in a cocaine smuggling operation worth up to €42 million, in which seven men pleaded guilty to conspiring to import controlled drugs between December 2024 and January 2025. The sentencing hearing was adjourned to 23 March 2026 and all defendants were remanded in custody.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted19 Jan
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe cocaine had an estimated value of up to €42 million (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThree of the men were Filipino nationals who were crew members aboard a ship transporting the drugs (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe ship transported the drugs from the Amazon region (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe vessel docked off the coast of Co Clare (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe remaining four men were based in Britain or Northern Ireland (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe conspiracy took place between 18 December 2024 and 15 January 2025 (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeSeven men pleaded guilty to conspiring to import controlled drugs (irishtimes.com)
  • courtAll defendants were remanded in custody (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe hearing took place at the Special Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMonks has been diagnosed with PTSD from his military service in Iraq and Afghanistan (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMonks joined the British Army at a young age and was honourably discharged in 2011 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMonks later worked in private security roles (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Jan2026
    Convictedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Former British soldier played ‘logistical role’ in smuggling €42m worth of cocaine

    Sentencing hearing at the Special Criminal Court where defence counsel for Gary Monks argued he played only a logistical role in the landing crew and was not at the top of the organisation; the court adjourned to 23 March 2026.

    convicted, Gary Monks, 41, male, British, named, non-irishGary Monksconvicted, Miljan Koprivica, 46, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Miljan Koprivicaconvicted, Conor Costello, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Conor Costelloconvicted, Ryan Watson, 32, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Ryan Watsonconvicted, Hanz Pangahin, 36, male, Filipino, named, non-irishHanz Pangahinconvicted, Christopher Ampo, 44, male, Filipino, named, non-irishChristopher Ampoconvicted, Feljon Lao, 29, male, Filipino, named, non-irishFeljon Lao