Ireland Two Bulgarian nationals remanded in custody over cocaine seizure at Rosslare Europort
On Thursday 13 July 2023, Revenue Customs Officers searched a horsebox that had disembarked a ferry from Cherbourg, France, at Rosslare Europort, Co. Wexford, and found an estimated 163kg of suspected cocaine valued at €11.4 million. Two men, Stoyan Stefano and Ivan Chalankov, both described as Bulgarian nationals and aged in their 20s and 30s, were arrested by gardaí and charged, with the drugs to be sent to FSI for analysis. On Saturday 15 July 2023 they appeared before a special sitting of Wexford District Court, where no bail application was made. The court remanded them in custody to appear again before Wexford District Court the following Monday by video link, and the investigation remains ongoing.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested13 Jul
2 reports - Charged13 Jul
2 reports - In court16 Jul
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- An estimated 163kg of suspected cocaine was found in the horsebox, reported as nearly or almost 163kg in some accounts.
- The suspected cocaine was valued at an estimated €11.4 million, although one report's headline gave €11.5 million.
- Where
- The horsebox was searched at Rosslare Europort Harbour, Co. Wexford, after it had arrived from Cherbourg, France.
- When
- The search took place on Thursday 13 July 2023 at about 1.30pm.
- Cause
- The seizure was carried out as part of Revenue's risk profiling process.
- Investigation
- Revenue officers used a mobile x-ray scanner and a detector dog after searching the horsebox.
- Gardaí arrested two men, aged in their 20s and 30s, in relation to the seizure.
- The suspected cocaine was to be sent to FSI for further analysis.
- Charges
- Stoyan Stefano, a Bulgarian national, was arrested at Wexford Garda Station, cautioned and given a copy of the charge sheet.
- Ivan Chalankov, a Bulgarian national, was arrested, taken to Wexford Garda Station, later charged and given a true copy of the charge sheet.
- In court
- The two men appeared before Judge John O'Leary at a special sitting of Wexford District Court on Saturday 15 July 2023 at 6pm.
- No bail application was made, and the court remanded both men in custody to appear before Wexford District Court the following Monday by video link.
- Other details
- The men were held under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a Garda station in Wexford.
- Solicitors said they would apply for free legal aid for the accused.
45 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí seized €11.4 million of cocaine. (garda.ie)
- whatRevenue Customs Officers seized an estimated €11.4 million of cocaine. (garda.ie)
- whatAn estimated 163kg of suspected cocaine was discovered. (garda.ie)
- whatTwo men were arrested after cocaine worth an estimated €11.4 million was found in a horsebox. (irishtimes.com)
- whatNearly 163kg of cocaine was seized. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAn estimated 163kg of suspected cocaine was found in the horsebox. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe seizure was valued at €11.4 million. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOfficers found an estimated 163kg of suspected cocaine. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe suspected cocaine was valued at €11.4m. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe seizure took place at Rosslare Europort Harbour, Co. Wexford. (garda.ie)
- whereThe drugs were found at Rosslare Europort, Co Wexford. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe horsebox had arrived in the port from Cherbourg, France. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe drugs were found in a horsebox at Rosslare Europort Harbour, Co Wexford. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe drugs were found in a horsebox that had arrived at the port from Cherbourg, France. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe seizure took place on Thursday 13 July 2023. (garda.ie)
- whenThe seizure took place on 13 July 2023. (garda.ie)
- whenThe seizure took place on Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe search took place on Thursday 13 July 2023 at about 1.30pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe cocaine was seized by Revenue at Rosslare on a Thursday. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation is ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationRevenue Customs Officers searched a horsebox that had disembarked a ferry. (garda.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested two men, aged in their 20s and 30s, in relation to the seizure. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe drugs will be sent to FSI for further analysis. (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe drugs were found with a mobile x-ray scanner and a drug detection dog after officers searched the horsebox. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationInvestigations following the arrests remain ongoing. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí attended the scene and arrested two men, aged in their 20s and 30s, in relation to the seizure. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationRevenue customs officers searched the horsebox at about 1.30pm after it disembarked from a ferry. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe search used a mobile x-ray scanner and a detector dog. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí from Wexford were called to the scene and arrested two men. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeBoth men were charged. (garda.ie)
- chargeThe two men were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- chargeGardaí charged both men. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeStoyan Stefano was arrested at Wexford Garda Station, cautioned and handed a copy of the charge sheet. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeIvan Chalankov was arrested, taken to Wexford Garda Station, later charged and given a true copy of the charge sheet. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe two men were due to appear before a special sitting of Wexford District Court at 6pm on 15 July 2023. (garda.ie)
- courtThe two men appeared before a special sitting of Wexford District Court on Saturday. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe two men are due to appear before a special sitting of Wexford District Court at 6pm on Saturday 15 July 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe two men appeared before Judge John O'Leary at a special sitting of Wexford District Court on a Saturday evening. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe two men are aged in their 20s and 30s. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtNo application for bail was made. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe court granted a remand in custody to appear before Wexford District Court the following Monday via video link. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe men are being held under Section Two of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a Garda station in Wexford. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe seizure was carried out as part of Revenue's risk profiling process. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSolicitors said they would apply for free legal aid for the accused. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 16 Jul2023Bulgarian national remanded in custody over €11.5m drugs find at Rosslare port
Adds the court appearance, remand in custody, the two accused's names and nationalities, the estimated weight and value, and the search method. No earlier report of this seizure appears in the existing cases.
accused, Stoyan Stefano, male, Bulgarian, named, non-irishStoyan Stefanoaccused, Ivan Chalankov, male, Bulgarian, named, non-irishIvan Chalankov - 15 Jul2023Two men charged after gardai seize huge cocaine haul worth €11.4 million
Reports the charging of two men and their appearance before a special sitting of Wexford District Court on 15 July 2023. The existing case 7715 concerns a different seizure at Rosslare Europort on 2 August 2023.
accused, maleaccused, male - 14 Jul2023Cocaine worth estimated €11.4m discovered in horsebox at Rosslare Europort
Adds the horsebox, the nearly 163kg weight, the Cherbourg origin of the vehicle, the x-ray and detector dog search, the men's age ranges and the ongoing investigation. No existing case covers this Rosslare seizure.
suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, male - 13 Jul2023€11.4 Million of Cocaine Seized, Rosslare Europort Harbour, Co. Wexford, 13th July 2023
Original garda.ie press release on the seizure and arrests; the article does not name the men or give their nationality. It is a different seizure from the 2 August 2023 Rosslare Europort cocaine case (7715).
suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, male - 13 Jul2023Court Appearance €11.4 Million of Cocaine Seized, Rosslare Europort Harbour, Co. Wexford. 13th July, 2023.
Original garda.ie press release reporting the seizure, the charging of two men aged in their 20s and 30s, and the court date.
accused, 20s, maleaccused, 30s, male