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. 6251Conspiracy to import controlled drugs · Co. Cork

Ten charged with conspiring to import drugs in west Cork

Ten men aged 34 to 55 were charged on March 21 with conspiring to import controlled drugs into Ireland, after arrests on Thursday, March 14 in Tragumna near Skibbereen and in Leap, west Cork. The sources name Ali Mazidi (46) and Kumaars Ghabiri (55), who are Dutch citizens, Alexander Milic (36), who is Serbian, and Sean Curran (37), and state that six of the men are Spanish. The alleged conspiracy ran between February 27 and March 14 and is part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged organised crime ring that attempted to land cocaine on the West Cork coast. All ten were remanded in custody by district courts with no bail available, and the latest dates set are March 26 at Mallow by video link and March 27 at Cork District Court.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged21 Mar
  4. In court21 Mar
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Ten men were charged as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged organised crime ring that allegedly attempted to land cocaine on the West Cork coast.
  • Seven suspects escaped in a campervan and led gardaí on a chase along the N71 before being stopped in Leap.
Charges
  • The ten men were charged with conspiring to import controlled drugs into Ireland, with the alleged value stated as in excess of €13,000.
  • The sources cite the charge as contrary to section 15B(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 as amended, while the Irish Times cites section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.
When
  • The alleged conspiracy took place on dates between February 27 and March 14.
  • The men were arrested on Thursday, March 14, after the Garda National Drugs Unit had them under surveillance.
Where
The arrests took place in Tragumna near Skibbereen and in Leap village in west Cork, where the men had arrived separately in small groups.
Investigation
  • Gardaí seized electronic devices, including phones of people in the Tragumna area, a campervan, an SUV and an articulated lorry containing a power boat and diving equipment.
  • The Irish Defence Forces are assisting gardaí in searching the West Cork coastline, and Interpol and the Maritime Analysis and Operational Centre in Portugal are involved.
Other details
  • It is believed a large amount of cocaine was dumped off an unknown mothership.
  • Gardaí suspect the operation was run from Spain and involved a Colombian cartel.
  • Ali Mazidi (46) and Kumaars Ghabiri (55) are Iranian-born Dutch citizens with addresses in Rotterdam, and Alexander Milic (36) is Serbian with an address in Belgrade.
In court
  • The men appeared at Bandon, Cork City and Midleton District Courts on March 21, where all were remanded in custody and bail was not available at district court level.
  • Four accused were remanded to Bantry District Court the following Wednesday, four to Cork District Court on March 27, and two to Mallow District Court by video link on March 26.
  • The detention of the Midleton accused was extended at Bandon sittings on March 15 and March 18, and all four accused before Bandon District Court were granted free legal aid.
27 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTen men have been charged as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged organised crime ring. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatSome men were arrested in Tragumna, while seven suspects escaped in a campervan and were stopped in Leap after a chase along the N71. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatTen men were charged with conspiring to import drugs into Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe raids took place in Tragumna and Leap. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whereThe men had arrived in West Cork separately in small groups. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whereThe ten men were arrested in Tragumna near Skibbereen and Leap village in west Cork. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged conspiracy took place on dates between February 27 and March 14. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe Garda National Drugs Unit had the men under surveillance before moving in on Thursday. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationDuring the raids, Gardaí seized electronic devices, including phones of people in the Tragumna area. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationThe Irish Defence Forces are assisting Gardaí in searching the West Cork coastline. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationInterpol and the Maritime Analysis and Operational Centre in Portugal are involved in the operation. (corkbeo.ie)
  • chargeThe ten men were charged with alleged offences in connection with the investigation. (corkbeo.ie)
  • chargeThe accused are alleged to have conspired to import controlled drugs in excess of €13,000. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe charge is contrary to section 15B(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 as amended. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe men are due to appear before several district courts in separseparate hearings. (corkbeo.ie)
  • courtThe men were split across Bandon, Cork City and Midleton District Courts. (corkbeo.ie)
  • courtThe accused appeared at three different court sittings on the Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtBail was not available on the charge at district court level. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtFour accused were remanded in custody to appear at Bantry District Court the following Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtFour other accused were remanded in custody to Cork District Court on March 27. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtTwo accused were remanded in custody to appear at Mallow District Court by video link on March 26. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe detention of the Midleton accused was extended at Bandon sittings on March 15 and March 18. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGardaí seized a campervan, an SUV and an articulated lorry containing a power boat and diving equipment. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherIt is believed a large amount of cocaine was dumped off an unknown mothership. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherSix of the men arrested are Spanish, two are Dutch and two are Serbian. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherGardaí suspect the operation was run from Spain and involved a Colombian cartel. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherAll four accused before Bandon District Court were granted free legal aid. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Mar2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Ten charged with conspiring to import drugs in west Cork

    Names the ten accused and their nationalities and ages, the alleged conspiracy period and value, the charge sections, and the remand dates. No existing case in the list covers this west Cork arrest or charge.

    accused, Ali Mazidi, 46, male, Dutch, named, non-irishAli Mazidiaccused, Kumaars Ghabiri, 55, male, Dutch, named, non-irishKumaars Ghabiriaccused, Alexander Milic, 36, male, Serbian, named, non-irishAlexander Milicaccused, Sean Curran, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Curranaccused, Antonio Gallarzo Barrofo, 55, male, namedAntonio Gallarzo Barrofoaccused, Raul Tabares, 48, male, namedRaul Tabaresaccused, Mario Angel Del Rio Sanz, 43, male, namedMario Angel Del Rio Sanzaccused, Pedro Padio Ojeda Ortega, 34, male, namedPedro Padio Ojeda Ortegaaccused, Angel Serran Padilla, 39, male, namedAngel Serran Padillaaccused, Anuar Rahui, 41, male, namedAnuar Rahui
  2. 21 Mar2024
    Chargedcorkbeo.ie, follow-up
    Ten men charged in connection with suspected West Cork drug smuggling operation

    Adds the charging of ten men, the court venues, and details of the Tragumna and Leap raids and the wider investigation. No existing case covers this operation.

    accused, maleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, male