Two men charged over €6m drug seizure in Ashbourne

Two men have appeared in court in Trim District Court earlier today charged in connection with the seizure of over €6 million worth of drugs as part of an international investigation into the Kinahan crime gang.

Michael Smullen, 31, with an address at Ashdale Close, Kinsealy, Co Dublin and Keith Donoghue, 37, from Swifts Grove, Clonshaugh, Co Dublin were charged with possession of drugs with intent to supply.

According to RTE News, the court was told the men had been preparing drugs for distribution and transport in a conveyor style system.

Yesterday, 311kgs of cannabis with an estimated street value of €6.2 million were seized at two industrial units in Ashbourne, Co Meath, by officers from the Garda's Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

The majority of the drugs were found in the back of the shed. The court was told that a weighing scales and tick list were also found.

Detective Garda William Armstrong told the court that the men were working a conveyor belt style system.

He said Mr Smullen was building boxes out of flat packs, while Mr O’Donoghue was putting the drugs into them and these were being prepared for further transport and distribution.

The court was told that both men were the fathers of young children and that Mr Smullen's partner and Mr Donoghue's mother were in court.

Gardaí objected to bail because of the seriousness of the charges.

Judge Cormac Dunne refused to grant either man bail and he remanded them both in custody to appear again at Trim District Court next Friday.