Case No. 1355Possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine for sale or supply · Co. Cork · 1 Jul 2025
Four men remanded in custody over €31 million cocaine seizure in Courtmacsherry, Co Cork
On 1 July 2025, gardaí seized 440kg of cocaine valued at approximately €31 million from a van stopped in Courtmacsherry, west Cork, after the drugs were landed at Broad Strand from a rigid inflatable boat that had collected them from a bulk carrier believed to have brought them from South America. Four men were arrested: Mark Doherty, 40, of Glasgow, and Levant Gulay, 31, of Neu Ulm, Germany, were arrested from the van, while Ben Sandford, 39, of Keith, Moray, and Christopher Hibbett, 44, of Truro, were detained by the Irish Naval Service off the Waterford coast. All four were charged with possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale or supply. They were remanded in custody at Bandon District Court on 3 July and again at Macroom District Court on 9 July, with the next appearance set for Clonakilty District Court by video-link on 15 July 2025.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested1 Jul
6 reports - Charged1 Jul
4 reports - In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- 440kg of cocaine in 18 vacuum-packed bales of 25kg each, valued at approximately €31 million (one source cited €35 million), was seized from a UK-registered rental van in Courtmacsherry, west Cork.
- The drugs were landed at Broad Strand at about 4am from a RIB that had collected them from a bulk carrier believed to have brought them across the Atlantic from South America.
- Four men were arrested: two from the van in Courtmacsherry and two from a RIB detained by the LÉ William Butler Yeats off the Waterford coast.
- Where
- The van was stopped in the Courtmacsherry area; the RIB was intercepted off the coast of Waterford and the two men were brought to Haulbowline Naval Base before being handed to GNDOCB detectives.
- When
- The seizure and arrests took place on 1 July 2025.
- Investigation
- The operation was a Joint Task Force Drugs Interdiction Operation involving 25 GNDOCB officers, Revenue Customs, the Irish Naval Service, the Irish Air Corps, the national surveillance unit, and armed ERU officers from Dublin.
- Customs rummage crews boarded a suspected bulk carrier in Irish waters but found nothing of evidential value and the ship was allowed to continue its voyage.
- A sample of the cocaine was sent to Forensic Science Ireland and confirmed as cocaine; GNDOCB is liaising with the UK National Crime Agency and MAOC-N in Lisbon to trace the origin of the haul.
- Charges
- All four men were charged with possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Meelmane, Courtmacsherry, on 1 July 2025.
- In court
- On 3 July 2025, Judge Joanne Carroll remanded all four in custody at Bandon District Court to appear at Macroom District Court on 9 July.
- On 9 July 2025, all four were remanded in custody at Macroom District Court to appear at Clonakilty District Court by video-link on 15 July 2025.
- Other details
- The suspects are Mark Doherty, 40, of Glasgow, Scotland; Levant Gulay, 31, of Neu Ulm, Germany; Ben Sandford, 39, of Keith, Moray, Scotland; and Christopher Hibbett, 44, of Truro, England.
114 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí seized an estimated €35 million worth of cocaine (irishtimes.com)
- whatFour men were arrested (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe men landed half a tonne of cocaine at Broad Strand (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe shipment was loaded into a van (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe van occupants included a Scottish man in his 40s and a German in his 30s (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwo Britons were arrested in Waterford (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Britons were apprehended by the Irish Navy ship LE WB Yeats (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe operation also involved Customs officers (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Irish Air Corps monitored vessel movements with a plane (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwo armed boarding parties were deployed from the Yeats in RHIBs (irishtimes.com)
- whatNaval personnel caught the craft and detained the two suspects after a short pursuit (irishtimes.com)
- whatNo shots were fired during the interception (irishtimes.com)
- whatA Joint Task Force Drugs Interdiction operation was ongoing in Co Cork. (garda.ie)
- whatGardaí from the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau stopped a van in the Courtmacsherry area and recovered a large quantity of suspected cocaine. (garda.ie)
- whatTwo males in their 30s and 40s were arrested and detained under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. (garda.ie)
- whatA Joint Task Force Drugs Interdiction Operation was ongoing in the Co. Cork area on 1 July 2025. (garda.ie)
- whatGardaí from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau stopped a van in the Courtmacsherry area. (garda.ie)
- whatCocaine valued in excess of €31 million was seized by Revenue Customs Service. (garda.ie)
- whatA RIB with two males on board departed from Broadstrand, Courtmacsherry. (garda.ie)
- whatThe suspect RIB was detained by Revenue Customs Service and the two males were taken on board the L.É. William Butler Yeats. (garda.ie)
- whatA large quantity of suspected cocaine was recovered from the van (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAround €30 million of cocaine was seized, though exact quantity and value were yet to be determined (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTwo males aged in their 30s and 40s were arrested (irishmirror.ie)
- what440kg of cocaine worth more than €30 million was seized in Courtmacsherry, west Cork (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwo members of the gang came over from the UK by ferry from Fishguard over the weekend (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwo others arrived in a high-powered RIB two days before the seizure (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe two men in the RIB crossed from Cornwall and overnighted in Kinsale (irishtimes.com)
- whatThey travelled to rendezvous with a cargo ship off the southwest coast to collect the drugs (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí watched the gang unload 18 bales of cocaine, each weighing 25kg, from the RIB (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe drugs were loaded into the back of a van (irishtimes.com)
- whatA team of armed ERU officers stopped the van a short distance away in Courtmacsherry (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe driver was a 40-year-old Scot from Glasgow and the passenger a 31-year-old German from Bavaria (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Irish Naval Service ship LÉ William Butler Yeats detained the other two members off the Waterford coast (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe vessel was believed to be en route back to Cornwall (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe two men detained by the Naval Service were a 44-year-old Englishman from Cornwall and a 36-year-old Scot from Aberdeenshire (irishtimes.com)
- whatCustoms officials boarded and examined a ship suspected of delivering cocaine worth almost €31 million to an international drugs trafficking gang off the south-west coast of Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe ship was identified as a bulk carrier believed to have brought the drugs across the Atlantic from South America. (irishtimes.com)
- whatArmed officers stopped a UK-registered rental van and arrested the driver and passenger. (irishtimes.com)
- what440kg of cocaine in 18 vacuum packed blocks was recovered from the back of the van. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Naval Service apprehended two other members of the gang when two Maritime Interdiction Teams stopped and boarded their RIB off Waterford. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe van contained 440kg of cocaine. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe cocaine consisted of 18 vacuum packed bales, each weighing 25kg. (irishtimes.com)
- what440kg of cocaine was seized in Courtmacsherry (irishtimes.com)
- what440kg of cocaine were seized at Courtmacsherry, Co Cork, on 1 July 2025 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe seizure was part of a Joint Task Force operation involving Customs and Excise and the Naval Service (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwo men were arrested in Courtmacsherry and two men were arrested at Haulbowline Naval Base after being detained at sea by LE William Butler Yeats (irishtimes.com)
- whereTwo men were arrested near Courtmacsherry in west Cork (irishtimes.com)
- whereTwo other men were arrested on a boat off the Co Waterford coast (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe two men were brought to Bandon Garda station for questioning (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe two Britons are to be questioned at a Garda station in Cork City (irishtimes.com)
- whereA van was stopped in the Courtmacsherry area of County Cork on Tuesday morning (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe drugs were brought ashore at Broad Strand (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe two men were taken to Haulbowline naval base and handed over to GNDOCB detectives (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe two men were taken to Togher Garda station in Cork city for questioning (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe officers examined ship movements off Broad Strand near Courtmacsherry in West Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe two men were arrested in Courtmacsherry in west Cork on Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
- whereTwo other men were apprehended aboard a RIB off Waterford by a Maritime Interdiction Team from the Naval Service. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe two men were conveyed to the naval base at Haulbowline and handed over to gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe charges relate to an incident at Meelmane, Courtmacsherry (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe drugs were landed at about 4am (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe unloading took place at about 4am on Tuesday (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe carrier passed 20 miles off Broad Strand in the early hours of Tuesday morning. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe drugs were being driven away from Broad Strand near Courtmacsherry at around 4am when they were seized. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe cocaine was seized on 1 July 2025 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAll four men were detained under drugs trafficking legislation allowing up to seven days before charge or release (irishtimes.com)
- investigationTwo males arrested at Haulbowline Naval Base remain detained at a Garda station in Co. Cork. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe Haulbowline detainees are held under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. (garda.ie)
- investigationTwo males in their 30s and 40s arrested from the van remain detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe Irish Naval ship L.É. William Butler Yeats on patrol responded to the RIB, supported by a Maritime patrol aircraft from the Irish Air Corps. (garda.ie)
- investigationTwo Naval Service RIBs with armed Maritime Interdiction Team members intercepted the suspect RIB off the coast of Cork. (garda.ie)
- investigationTwo males in their 30s and 40s from the RIB were arrested and detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe two men are detained in a Garda Station in Co Cork under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe operation was supported by the Joint Task Force, Revenue's Customs Service, the Irish Naval Service, and the Irish Air Corps (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe operation had been under surveillance for the previous number of days (irishmirror.ie)
- investigation25 officers from the GNDOCB were involved in the operation (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe national surveillance unit and armed ERU officers from Dublin were also involved (irishtimes.com)
- investigationCustoms rummage crews boarded the ship in Irish waters on Tuesday and found nothing of evidential value to the criminal investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDetectives from GNDOCB continue to work with international police forces and MAOC-N in Lisbon to trace the origin of the drugs haul. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe two men were taken for questioning to Bandon Garda station and can be detained for up to seven days under drugs trafficking legislation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe two men were brought to Naval Service headquarters, handed over to gardaí, arrested, and taken to Togher Garda station for questioning. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe haul of drugs was sent for analysis by scientists at Forensic Science Ireland to establish the purity of the cocaine. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe arrests were part of an investigation by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí received directions from the DPP on Wednesday night to charge both men. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí are liaising with their colleagues in the UK to find out more about the gang. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe seizure was part of a joint operation with Revenue Customs and Naval Service (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA kilo of the drug was sent to Forensic Science Ireland and confirmed as cocaine, but further tests are needed (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGNDOCB is liaising with the UK National Crime Agency to pursue lines of inquiry (irishtimes.com)
- chargeTwo males arrested in the Courtmacsherry area have been charged. (garda.ie)
- chargeAll four suspects are held under section 50 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 2007 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAll four were charged with possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale or supply (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAll four were charged with possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Meelmane, Courtmacsherry on 1 July (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe charged males are expected to appear at Bandon District Court on 3 July 2025. (garda.ie)
- courtTwo men are due to appear in court on Thursday to be charged. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe men are due to be brought to Bandon District Court on Thursday morning to be charged. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe four men were brought to Bandon District Court by officers from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Joanne Carroll remanded all four in custody to Macroom District Court on 9 July (irishtimes.com)
- courtDefence solicitors said their clients were not applying for bail but reserving their positions (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Joanne Carroll remanded all four in custody to Macroom District Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe four appeared at Macroom District Court on Wednesday under tight security including Garda Armed Support Unit officers (irishtimes.com)
- courtAll four were remanded in custody to appear at Clonakilty District Court by video-link on 15 July 2025 (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí believe the drugs originated in South America (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe exact quantity and value of the cocaine had not yet been determined. (garda.ie)
- otherThe operation was supported by Revenue's Customs Service, the Irish Naval Service, local Gardaí, and the Irish Air Corps. (garda.ie)
- otherSenator Noel O'Donovan called it the biggest drug bust in the country this year (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe ship was told it was free to continue on its voyage. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe men were held under drugs trafficking legislation allowing seven days of detention. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMark Doherty is 40 and from Waterfoot Avenue, Glasgow, Scotland (irishtimes.com)
- otherLevent Gulay is 31 and from Schwabeenstrasse 76, Neu Ulm, Germany (irishtimes.com)
- otherBen Sandford is 39 and from Woodgreen, Drum Road, Keith, Moray, Scotland (irishtimes.com)
- otherChristopher Hibbett is 44 and from Lower Park, Trissillian, Truro, England (irishtimes.com)
- otherMark Doherty, 40, of Waterfoot Avenue, Glasgow, was not applying for bail and was seeking free legal aid (irishtimes.com)
- otherBen Sandford, 39, of Keith, Moray, Scotland, was reserving his position on a bail application (irishtimes.com)
- otherChristopher Hibbett, 44, of Truro, England, was making no application for bail at that stage (irishtimes.com)
- otherLevant Gulay, 31, of Neu Ulm, Germany, was making no application for bail (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 9 Jul2025Gardaí working with UK National Crime Agency as part of investigation into €31 million West Cork drugs haul
First court appearance of the four accused at Macroom District Court; all remanded in custody to Clonakilty District Court on 15 July 2025. Gardaí confirmed liaison with UK NCA and that Forensic Science Ireland confirmed a sample as cocaine.
accused, Mark Doherty, 40, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Mark Dohertyaccused, Levant Gulay, 31, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Levant Gulayaccused, Ben Sandford, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Ben Sandfordaccused, Christopher Hibbett, 44, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Christopher Hibbett - 3 Jul2025Four men remanded in custody charged over €31m cocaine seizure in Co Cork
Provides details of the Bandon District Court remand hearing, including the four accused's addresses and nationalities, the detectives who gave evidence, Hibbett's reply to the charge, and the judge's directions for the next appearance at Macroom District Court on 9 July.
suspect, Mark Doherty, 40, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Mark Dohertysuspect, Levent Gulay, 31, male, German, named, non-irishLevent Gulaysuspect, Ben Sandford, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Ben Sandfordsuspect, Christopher Hibbett, 44, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Christopher Hibbett - 3 Jul2025Two men due in court following €31m drugs seizure in west Cork
Provides additional operational detail including the RIB interception off Waterford by the Naval Service, the specific composition of the cocaine (18 bales of 25kg each), the involvement of Revenue customs and excise officers, and the DPP's direction to charge received Wednesday night.
suspect, 40, male, non-irish (judged from name)suspect, 31, male, German, non-irishsuspect, 44, male, English, non-irishsuspect, 36, male, non-irish (judged from name) - 2 Jul2025Customs officers boarded ship suspected of delivering €31 million drugs haul off Cork coast
Provides detail on the customs boarding of the suspected bulk carrier, the arrest process for all four gang members (two by ERU at Broad Strand, two by Naval Service off Waterford), and the ongoing international investigation with MAOC-N in Lisbon.
suspect, 40, male, non-irish (judged from name)suspect, 31, male, German, non-irishsuspect, 44, male, English, non-irishsuspect, 36, male, non-irish (judged from name) - 2 Jul2025Gardaí question four arrested in connection with the seizure of more than €30m worth of cocaine
Provides detailed account of the operation: the RIB crossing from Cornwall, the ferry arrival from Fishguard, the 4am unloading of 18 bales at Broad Strand, the ERU van stop in Courtmacsherry, and the Naval Service pursuit and boarding off the Waterford coast. Identifies the nationalities and ages of all four suspects and confirms they are held under section 50 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 2007.
suspect, 40, male, non-irish (judged from name)suspect, 31, male, German, non-irishsuspect, 44, male, English, non-irishsuspect, 36, male, non-irish (judged from name) - 1 Jul2025Two arrested after multi-agency cocaine seizure in Cork
Initial report of the arrest following the multi-agency cocaine seizure; two men in their 30s and 40s detained under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007; Senator O'Donovan described it as the biggest drug bust in the country this year.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male - 1 Jul2025Update - Joint Task Force Drugs Interdiction Operation, Co. Cork Tuesday 1st July 2025
Initial Garda press release describing the Joint Task Force operation, the van stop in Courtmacsherry, the RIB interception by the Naval Service off the coast of Cork, and the arrest of four men.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male - 1 Jul2025Joint Task Force Drugs Interdiction Operation, Co. Cork Tuesday 1st July 2025.
Initial Garda press release from the day of the operation confirming the van stop, cocaine recovery, and arrest of two males in their 30s and 40s under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007, before the later court appearance reported in the existing case.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male - 1 Jul2025Update (2) Court Appearance - Joint Task Force Drugs Interdiction Operation, Co. Cork Tuesday 1st July 2025
Update on court appearances: the two Courtmacsherry-area males have been charged and appeared at Bandon District Court on 3 July 2025; the two Haulbowline Naval Base males remain detained under Section 50 at a Garda station in Co. Cork.
suspect, 40, male, non-irish (judged from name)suspect, 31, male, non-irish (judged from name)suspect, 39, male, non-irish (judged from name)suspect, 44, male, non-irish (judged from name) - 1 Jul2025Cork cocaine seizure: Four men arrested as drugs worth some €35m seized
Initial report of the arrest operation, providing details of how the drugs were landed at Broad Strand, the van stop, and the Naval Service interception of the boat off Co Waterford.
suspect, 40s, male, Scottish, non-irishsuspect, 30s, male, German, non-irishsuspect, male, non-irish (judged from name)suspect, male, non-irish (judged from name)