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. 1271Conspiring to import drugs (cocaine) · Co. Cork · 14 Mar 2024

Two more men plead guilty in Cork cocaine smuggling trial; three seek trial dates

Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega and Angel Serran Padilla pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to conspiring to import drugs in a case involving a rigid inflatable boat that attempted a sea rendezvous off the south coast in March 2024, after which 840kg of cocaine worth up to €59 million was found washed up in Denmark. Three co-accused are seeking trial dates while sentencing of the seven guilty defendants continues.

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

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
18 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTen men were arrested in March 2024 in Tragumna and Leap near Skibbereen, Co Cork (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA jeep, camper van, articulated truck and rigid inflatable boat were seized (irishtimes.com)
  • whatNautical equipment including satellite phones, GPS devices, radios, control panels and wetsuits were found (irishtimes.com)
  • what840kg of cocaine valued at €58 million to €59 million was found washed up in Denmark (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA notepad was found in the vehicle with co-ordinates for Dromadoon Pier and Rosscarbery Pier and details for six Airbnb and rental properties (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA member of the public observed an articulated truck reversing down and a camper van and other vehicles about 50 metres away (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHoldall bags were transferred from the RIB to the pier (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe articulated truck, trailer and black Land Rover were still at the pier where further arrests were made (irishtimes.com)
  • whereVehicles were intercepted at Tragumna Pier in Cork (irishtimes.com)
  • whenOn 27 February 2024, gardaí conducted a checkpoint at Gully in Bandon, Co Cork (irishtimes.com)
  • whenOn 12 March 2024, gardaí received confidential information about suspicious activity at Tragumna Pier (irishtimes.com)
  • whenTwo days after 12 March, the campervan was observed leaving an Airbnb near Leap and entering the Tragumna area shortly after midnight (irishtimes.com)
  • whenAt around 5am the Land Rover and articulated truck appeared at the slipway at Tragumna and 10 minutes later a black RIB was observed (irishtimes.com)
  • whenAt 7.20am, five defendants and one other man were detained and the white camper van was seized (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeFive men previously pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to import drugs (irishtimes.com)
  • chargePedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega (36) and Angel Serran Padilla (40) pleaded guilty to conspiring to import drugs (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThree co-accused – Ali Ghasemi Mazidi (50), Sean Curran (37), and Raul Tabares Garcia (48) – are seeking trial dates (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe sentencing hearing continues on Tuesday (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Jul2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Inflatable boat tried to make rendezvous with ship at sea in bid to import drugs, court hears

    Reports two further guilty pleas (Ojeda Ortega and Serran Padilla) and that three co-accused (Mazidi, Curran, Tabares Garcia) are seeking trial dates; provides detailed timeline of the March 2024 operation at Tragumna Pier including the RIB rendezvous attempt and vehicle seizures.

    convicted, Mario Angel Del Rio Sanz, 45, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Mario Angel Del Rio Sanzconvicted, Anuar Rahui Chairi, 42, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Anuar Rahui Chairiconvicted, Juan Antonio Gallardo Barroso, 56, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Juan Antonio Gallardo Barrosoconvicted, Aleksandar Milic, 27, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Aleksandar Milicconvicted, Kiumaars Ghabiri, 52, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Kiumaars Ghabiriconvicted, Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega, 36, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortegaconvicted, Angel Serran Padilla, 40, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Angel Serran Padillaaccused, Ali Ghasemi Mazidi, 50, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Ali Ghasemi Mazidiaccused, Sean Curran, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Curranaccused, Raul Tabares Garcia, 48, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Raul Tabares Garcia