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. 11065Cocaine importation · Co. Cork

Sentencing adjourned in Cork cocaine importation case

Four men, Mark Doherty (40), Levent Gulay (31), Christopher Hibbett (44) and Ben Sandford (39), were charged in connection with the alleged attempted importation of cocaine worth €31 million at Courtmacsherry, west Cork, in July 2025, after a van was stopped there. Each faced five charges, and on 10 February 2026 all four affirmed their guilty pleas at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Boyle granted the State's application to adjourn sentencing until 12 May so it can present a PowerPoint presentation.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court10 Feb
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Four men were charged in connection with the attempted importation of cocaine worth €31 million.
Where
The attempted importation took place at Courtmacsherry in west Cork.
When
The incident took place in July 2025, reported as last July in articles dated 10 February 2026.
Investigation
The drugs were seized after a van was stopped in Courtmacsherry, Co Cork.
Other details
  • The suspects are Mark Doherty, aged 40, Levent Gulay, aged 31, Christopher Hibbett, aged 44, and Ben Sandford, aged 39; one article spells the last name Sanford.
  • Counsel for Sandford, Hibbett and Doherty applied for Probation and Governor's Reports, and counsel for Gulay sought a Probation Report.
Charges
  • Each of the four men faced five charges, including possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale or supply under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977.
  • The men were also charged with possession of more than €13,000 worth of cocaine for sale or supply and with importation of cocaine.
  • Doherty and Gulay were charged with possession of Motorola and Google phones to commit a criminal offence.
  • Sandford and Hibbett were charged with possession of a rigid inflatable boat used in connection with a drugs trafficking offence.
In court
  • On 10 February 2026 all four men affirmed their guilty pleas at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
  • The State applied to adjourn sentencing of all four men until 12 May to present a PowerPoint presentation that could take up to two hours.
Sentence
Judge Boyle granted the applications and adjourned sentencing until 12 May.
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatFour men were charged in connection with the attempted importation of €31 million worth of cocaine. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe attempted importation took place at Courtmacsherry in west Cork. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe drugs were seized after a van was stopped in Courtmacsherry, Co Cork. (rte.ie)
  • chargeEach of the four men faced five charges. (rte.ie)
  • chargeThe charges included possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale and supply under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. (rte.ie)
  • chargeThe men were also charged with possession of more than €13,000 worth of cocaine for sale or supply and importation of cocaine. (rte.ie)
  • chargeDoherty and Gulay were charged with possession of Motorola and Google phones to commit a criminal offence. (rte.ie)
  • chargeSandford and Hibbett were charged with possession of a rigid inflatable boat used in connection with a drugs trafficking offence. (rte.ie)
  • courtAll four men affirmed their guilty pleas at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe State applied to adjourn sentencing of all four men until 12 May, to present a PowerPoint presentation. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe State said the presentation could take up to two hours. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Boyle granted the applications and adjourned sentencing until 12 May. (rte.ie)
  • otherCounsel for Sandford, Hibbett and Doherty applied for Probation and Governor's Reports, and Gulay's counsel sought a Probation Report. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 10 Feb2026
    In courtrte.ie, first report
    Sentencing adjourned in Cork cocaine importation case

    Sentencing of four men adjourned to 12 May after they affirmed guilty pleas at Cork Circuit Criminal Court; the drugs were seized after a van was stopped in Courtmacsherry last July.

    convicted, Mark Doherty, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Mark Dohertyconvicted, Levent Gulay, 31, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Levent Gulayconvicted, Christopher Hibbett, 44, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Christopher Hibbettconvicted, Ben Sandford, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Ben Sandford