Thursday 29 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. 2073Importation of controlled drugs (crystal meth), facilitating the activities of a criminal organisation · Co. Kerry · 16 Oct 2023

Nathan McDonnell jailed for 12 years over €32m crystal meth haul takes up prison gardening

Nathan McDonnell, a man, 44, then chief executive of the Ballyseedy Group, pleaded guilty to importing 546kg of crystal meth worth approximately €32.4 million from the Mexican Sinaloa cartel into Cork on 16 October 2023 and to facilitating the activities of a criminal organisation. The drugs were hidden in machinery that arrived from Antwerp and was to be shipped to Australia, and were stored at Ballyseedy Garden Centre in Kerry. He was arrested at the garden centre on 12 February 2024 after gardaí watched him remove the machinery from a shed, and was sentenced to 12 years in prison in February 2025. His solicitor confirmed in March 2025 that he will not appeal and that he has been accepted into Portlaoise prison's horticulture programme.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced8 Mar
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • 546kg of crystal meth worth approximately €32.4 million from the Mexican Sinaloa cartel was hidden in machinery at Ballyseedy Garden Centre, Kerry.
  • The machinery arrived from Antwerp in October 2023 and was to be shipped to Australia, where there is a lucrative market for crystal meth.
  • McDonnell was to be paid €150,000 for facilitating the storage of the machine, though no evidence was found that he received the money.
Where
Customs officers stopped and inspected a container at Cork Port, and gardaí and customs officers X-rayed the machinery three days after it was loaded into the container.
When
McDonnell was arrested at Ballyseedy Garden Centre on 12 February 2024 after gardaí watched him remove the machinery from a shed, and was taken to Castleisland Garda station for questioning.
Investigation
The investigation began after the Kerry Divisional Drugs Unit raided a house in Listowel on 6 June 2023 and seized five phones, SIM cards and documents that led them to McDonnell and another man.
Charges
McDonnell pleaded guilty to importing controlled drugs into Cork on 16 October 2023 and to facilitating the activities of a criminal organisation between 16 October 2023 and 12 February 2024.
In court
McDonnell was sentenced to 12 years in prison in February 2025.
Other details
  • McDonnell has no previous convictions.
  • Glen Thompson, a man, punched McDonnell in the face in the days before sentencing, breaking his jaw and requiring surgery.
  • McDonnell's solicitor confirmed in March 2025 that he will not appeal and that he has been accepted into Portlaoise prison's horticulture programme.
35 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMcDonnell complained to gardaí in July 2023 about online rumours suggesting he was being investigated by the Criminal Assets Bureau. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe was then chief executive of the Ballyseedy Group. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA uniformed member took note of the complaint. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMcDonnell took possession of 546kg of crystal meth from the Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel on October 16, 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe drugs arrived from Antwerp hidden in machinery. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe machinery was to be shipped to Australia where there is a lucrative market for crystal meth. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe full extent of the consignment was valued at approximately €32.4 million. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe became weak when detectives came in the door. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMcDonnell initially denied having any knowledge of the drugs in the machinery. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMcDonnell said the case would be depicted like a movie given his standing. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMcDonnell changed his story after five days in custody. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMcDonnell said he had to think of safety because people knew where he lived. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe hid €32M worth of Sinaloa cartel crystal meth in a purpose-built machine at Ballyseedy Garden Centre (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe drugs were worth €32.4 million (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe was involved in creating a false invoice for the machine (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe was hoping to be paid €150,000 for facilitating the storage of the machine (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe Sinaloa cartel intended to store the drugs in Ireland before shipping them to Australia (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereHe came into Tralee Garda station in July 2023 to make the complaint. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereMcDonnell was arrested at Ballyseedy Garden Centre that afternoon. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereHe was taken to Castleisland Garda station for questioning. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenGardaí were watching McDonnell on February 12, 2024, when he removed the machinery from a shed at Ballyseedy Garden Centre. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe machine arrived in Cork in October 2023 (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationHe was already being investigated by the Kerry Divisional Drugs Unit after they raided a house in Listowel on June 6, 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí seized five phones, SIM cards and documents from the Listowel raid that led them to McDonnell and another man. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí and customs officers began examining the machinery three days after it was loaded into the container. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThey X-rayed the equipment and discovered it contained drugs. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationCustoms officers stopped and inspected a container in Cork Port where the drugs were found (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to importing drugs into Cork on 16 October 2023 (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to facilitating the activities of a criminal organisation between 16 October 2023 and 12 February 2024 (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtHis solicitor confirmed he will not appeal his 12-year sentence (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceMcDonnell was jailed to 12 years in prison (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherHe was punched in the face by Glen Thompson in the days before sentencing (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherNo evidence was found that he received the €150,000 (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMcDonnell has no previous convictions (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherPrison bosses moved Thompson off the landing he shared with McDonnell (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 18 Mar2025
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Businessman jailed over €32m crystal meth haul takes up unusual prison hobby

    Follow-up on McDonnell's life in prison: he has been accepted into Portlaoise prison's horticulture programme, his solicitor Padraig O'Connell confirmed there will be no appeal of the 12-year sentence, and details are given about a pre-sentencing assault by Glen Thompson that broke his jaw and required surgery.

    convicted, Nathan McDonnell, male, named, irish (judged from name)Nathan McDonnellsuspect, Glen Thompson, male, named, irish (judged from name)Glen Thompson
  2. 8 Mar2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Nathan McDonnell complained to gardaí about crime link rumours in months before €32m drug haul

    Adds details of McDonnell's July 2023 complaint to Tralee Garda station about Cab rumours, the June 2023 Listowel raid that triggered the investigation, the full timeline of the February 2024 arrest at Ballyseedy Garden Centre, his initial denial and subsequent change of story after five days in custody, and that he was to receive €150,000 for his role.

    convicted, Nathan McDonnell, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Nathan McDonnell