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. 7695Drug trafficking (cocaine possession and possession for sale or supply) · Co. Cork · 5 Aug 2023

Three men charged over €4m cocaine seizure in Dunkettle, Cork

On the early hours of Saturday 5 August 2023, Revenue and gardaí seized about 60kg of suspected cocaine in Cork, valued at €4.2 million by Revenue, at Richmond, Dunkettle, Co Cork, though one report places the seizure on Leeside. Three men were arrested that day: Gentjan Dodaj (39), an Albanian man, Donatel Dodaj (22), an Albanian man, and Daniel Afedoaei (22), a Romanian man. All three were charged on Sunday with possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale or supply, and on Monday 7 August they appeared at a special sitting in Cork, where they were remanded in custody to 14 August by video link with free legal aid granted and no bail applications made.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested5 Aug
    3 reports
  3. Charged5 Aug
  4. In court7 Aug
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Revenue and gardaí seized about 60kg of suspected cocaine in Cork.
  • Revenue gave the estimated value as €4.2 million, while some reports describe it as over €4 million.
When
The seizure was made in the early hours of Saturday 5 August 2023.
Where
  • The seizure was made at Richmond, Dunkettle, Co Cork, according to the charge details, while one report places it on Leeside in Cork.
  • The consignment arrived in a freight container through Ringaskiddy Port, and two cars left container facilities in Ringaskiddy under surveillance.
Cause
The seizure followed an intelligence-led operation targeting suspected involvement with organised crime.
Investigation
  • The seizure was a joint operation by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and Revenue's Customs Service.
  • The three arrested men are suspected of collecting the drugs from the port and transporting them out of the Cork area.
  • Investigations are ongoing.
Other details
  • Gentjan Dodaj (39) and Donatel Dodaj (22) are Albanian men, and Daniel Afedoaei (22) is a Romanian man, as stated in court reports.
  • The three men were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Garda stations in Cork.
Charges
  • All three men were charged with possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale or supply.
  • Gentjan Dodaj was charged at Togher Garda Station and Daniel Afedoaei at Gurranabraher Garda Station, both on Sunday.
In court
  • The three men appeared at a special sitting on Monday 7 August 2023, described as Cork District Court at Anglesea Street in one report and as the Criminal Courts of Justice in Cork in others.
  • None of the men replied when cautioned, no bail applications were made, and the judge granted all three free legal aid.
  • The three men were remanded in custody to appear again by video link on 14 August 2023.
60 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatRevenue officers seized about 60kg of cocaine. (garda.ie)
  • whatThe update concerns a €4.2 million cocaine seizure in Cork. (garda.ie)
  • whatThe seizure involved about 60kg of cocaine. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatRevenue officers seized about 60kg of cocaine valued at €4,200,000. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAbout 60kg of cocaine with an estimated value of €4.2 million was seized in Cork. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatThree men were charged in connection with a €4.2 million cocaine seizure. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAbout 60kg of suspected cocaine worth over €4 million was seized. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatRevenue officers seized approximately 60 kilograms of suspected cocaine valued at €4,200,000. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe arrested men are detained at Garda stations in the Cork region. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe cocaine was seized in Co Cork. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe cocaine was seized in Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe seizure was made on Leeside in Cork. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whereTwo cars left container facilities in Ringaskiddy under surveillance. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whereThe seizure was made at Richmond, Dunkettle, Co Cork. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe offences are alleged to have happened at Richmond, Dunkettle, Co Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe operation took place on Saturday 5 August 2023. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe seizure took place on Saturday 5 August 2023. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe haul was uncovered early on Saturday. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe seizure was made in the early hours of Saturday morning. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whenThe offences are alleged to have occurred on August 5, 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offences are alleged to have happened on Saturday 5 August 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe operation targeted persons suspected of involvement with organised crime. (garda.ie)
  • investigationIt was a joint operation by GNDOCB and Revenue personnel. (garda.ie)
  • investigationA surveillance operation involving Revenue Customs officers and Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau members led to the seizure. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe three arrested men are suspected of collecting the drugs from the port and transporting them out of the Cork area. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe drugs are to be taken away for further examination. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe seizure followed an intelligence-led operation by Gardaí and Revenue. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe men are detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Garda stations in Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are still ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe seizure was the result of a joint operation by Revenue's Customs Service and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationThe operation was intelligence-led. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationThree men were arrested, two in their 20s and one in his 30s. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationDetectives from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau carried out the seizure as part of a joint operation with Revenue. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe seizure followed an intelligence-led operation by the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau and Revenue's Customs Service. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeAll three men arrested in the investigation have been charged. (garda.ie, corkbeo.ie)
  • chargeEach accused was charged with possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale or supply. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe three men are charged with possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale or supply. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeGentjan Dodaj was charged at Togher Garda Station in Cork city at 6.52pm on Sunday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe three men are expected to appear before a special sitting of the Criminal Courts of Justice in Cork at 5pm on 7 August 2023. (garda.ie)
  • courtThe men were due before a special sitting of the Criminal Courts of Justice in Cork city at around 5pm on the day of the article. (corkbeo.ie)
  • courtThe three men appeared before a special sitting of Cork District Court on a Monday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe men were brought before a special sitting of Cork District Court at Anglesea Street courthouse. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDefence solicitors consented to a remand in custody at this point while reserving their positions on bail. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge granted all three men free legal aid. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe men were remanded in custody to appear again at Cork District Court on August 14, by video link. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtNone of the men replied when cautioned in connection with the alleged offences. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtGentjan Dodaj was granted free legal aid and remanded in custody pending his next court appearance on 14 August. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtDaniel Afedoaei was charged at Gurranabraher Garda Station in Cork at 6.30pm on Sunday and was remanded in custody to 14 August. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtDonatel Dodaj was assigned free legal aid and remanded in custody to appear by video link on 14 August. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtNo bail applications were made for the three men. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGardaí arrested three men during the operation. (garda.ie)
  • otherTwo of the men, in their 20s, and one man in his 30s are detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (garda.ie)
  • otherThe consignment arrived in the State in a freight container through Ringaskiddy Port. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe three men were held at garda stations in Cork under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThree men were arrested during the operation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe cars were heading towards the Dunkettle interchange when gardaí intervened. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherThe three men were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Garda stations in Cork. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherA court sitting on a bank holiday Monday in Cork is highly unusual. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherGardaí told the court that none of the accused made any reply when charged after caution. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 7 Aug2023
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Three in court on dealing raps after gardai seize suspected cocaine worth €4m

    Court appearance of the three accused, who were remanded in custody to 14 August; legal aid granted; no bail applications made.

    accused, Gentjan Dodaj, 39, male, Albanian, named, non-irishGentjan Dodajaccused, Donatel Dodaj, 22, Albanian, named, non-irishDonatel Dodajaccused, Daniel Afedoaei, 22, male, namedDaniel Afedoaei
  2. 7 Aug2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Three men appear in court over €4.2m drug seizure in Cork

    Reports the Cork District Court appearance of three men charged over a 60kg cocaine seizure at Richmond, Dunkettle; names the accused, their nationalities and ages, and the remand and legal aid decisions.

    accused, Gentjan Dodaj, 39, male, Albanian, named, non-irishGentjan Dodajaccused, Donatel Dodaj, 22, male, Albanian, named, non-irishDonatel Dodajaccused, Daniel Afedoaei, 22, male, Romanian, named, non-irishDaniel Afedoaei
  3. 7 Aug2023
    In courtcorkbeo.ie, follow-up
    Three in court in Cork after €4.2m cocaine seizure on Leeside

    Reports the charging of three men and a special court sitting in Cork city the same day, following a cocaine seizure made in the early hours of Saturday.

    accused, 20s, maleaccused, 20s, maleaccused, 30s, male
  4. 6 Aug2023
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Three men arrested as huge cocaine haul worth €4.2 million seized in Cork

    Reports the arrests of three men under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 and gives Garda and Revenue statements, including that investigations are ongoing.

    suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, male
  5. 5 Aug2023
    Arrestedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Three men arrested after cocaine valued at €4.2m seized in Co Cork

    Adds the port of entry (Ringaskiddy, in a freight container), the surveillance operation, the suspected role of the three men in collecting and moving the drugs, and that they were held at Cork garda stations under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. It does not name the men or give their nationality, and it does not mention Dunkettle or any charges.

    suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male
  6. 5 Aug2023
    Chargedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Update - GNDOCB and Revenue €4.2 Million Cocaine Seizure, Cork, Saturday 5th August 2023

    Garda update confirming all three men arrested have been charged and are expected to appear before a special sitting in Cork at 5pm on Monday 7 August 2023.

    accused, 20saccused, 20saccused, 30s, male
  7. 5 Aug2023
    Arrestedgarda.ie, follow-up
    GNDOCB And Revenue €4.2m Cocaine Seizure - Cork - 5th August 2023

    Official Garda press release on the same seizure and arrests. It gives the operation as intelligence-led and joint with GNDOCB and Revenue, and states the arrests and Section 2 detention. It does not name the men or give a location for the seizure, and it does not mention charges or court.

    suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, male