Philip Doo, 52, of Higher Manor Road, Brixham, David Mufford, 44, of Clennon Court, Clennon Lane, Torquay, and Christopher Wiggins, 42, from Spain's Costa del Sol, are charged with attempting to import 1.7 tonnes of cocaine — believed to be valued at more than 500 million euro (£440m).The three Britons have been remanded in continuing custody after they appeared in court yesterday in connection with the cocaine seizure by Irish Navy, Irish police and Customs in a joint task force operation off the West Cork coast last year.The trio were due to go on trial at Cork Circuit Criminal Court but barristers asked for the case to be put back to the next session so defence teams could continue discussions with state prosecutors.
"Certain communications are ongoing with the state," said Marjorie Farrelly, senior counsel for Wiggins.three men were detained last November after the authorities swooped on the 60ft ocean-going boat Dances With Waves, 170 miles off the west Cork coast.Seventy-five bales of cocaine were discovered on the vessel which set sail from the Caribbean a month earlier.They are charged that on November 5, 2008, on the ship, Dances with Waves, a ship not registered in any country or territory, they had possession of cocaine knowing it was intended to be imported into a country other than Ireland.Ms Farrelly's application was supported by Tim O'Leary for Mufford and Donal O'Sullivan for Doo, and the state did not object to the adjournment.
Judge Patrick Moran put the case back until April 21.All three have been in custody since their arrest.They are charged with the same offence under Section 34 of the Republic's Criminal Justice Drug Trafficking Act — possession of drugs with intent to import.The seizure exceeded a previous record-breaking haul of 1.5 tonnes of cocaine — valued at 440 million euro (£323m) — which washed up on the Cork coast near Mizen Head in July 2007 after an elaborate trafficking scam fell apart.
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