Two men have appeared in court charged with the seizure of over €14 million worth of drugs in Co Laois on Tuesday.
robert Wojtanowicz, from Manor Grove in Mountmellick in Laois, and Robert Cup, from Marlfield Gardens, Cabinteely in Dublin, were brought to court in Portlaoise this afternoon by officers from the Dublin Crime Response Team.
Mr wojtanowicz faces eight drugs charges, four of possession of cannabis and cocaine and four of supply at Laois Motor Services in Mountmellick and at Eaton Close in Rathcoole in dublin.
His co-accused Mr Cup also faces four charges of possession and supply of cannabis and cocaine at Laois Motor Services, as well as a charge of money laundering at Eaton Close in Rathcoole.
Two detectives from the Dublin Crime Response Team, Marie Callely and Niall Mannion, gave evidence of arrest charge and caution.
Both said each accused made no reply to the charges.
Both men applied for free legal aid but Judge John Brennan said he was reserving judgment on that and remanded both men in custody to Clover hill Prison.
They are both due to appear again in portlaoise District Court by video link next week.
Two Men Charged with Seizure of Over €14 Million Worth of Drugs in Co Laois
Interview with Detective Marie Callely and Detective Niall Mannion from the Dublin Crime Response Team
Editor: Could you start by telling us about the recent drug seizure in Co laois and the subsequent arrests?
Detective Marie Callely: Certainly. Earlier this week, officers from our team seized over €14 million worth of drugs in Co Laois. Following the seizure, two men were brought to court—Robert Wojtanowicz, from Manor Grove in Mountmellick, Laois, and Robert Cup, from Marlfield Gardens, Cabinteely, Dublin.
Editor: What charges were levied against these individuals?
Detective Niall Mannion: Mr. Wojtanowicz faces eight charges overall: four for possession of cannabis and cocaine, and four for supply at Laois Motor Services in Mountmellick and Eaton Close in Rathcoole, Dublin. his co-accused, Mr. Cup, faces four charges of possession and supply of cannabis and cocaine at Laois Motor Services and a separate charge of money laundering at Eaton Close in Rathcoole.
Editor: Could you walk us through the process of their arrest and the court appearance?
Detective Marie Callely: Both Individually, where we observed them, officers from the Dublin Crime Response Team, including myself, arrested them. The suspects were then brought to the Portlaoise District Court this afternoon. We provided evidence of the charges, and both men were read their rights and charges.
Editor: How did the suspects react to the charges?
Detective Niall Mannion: Neither of the accused made any reply to the charges during their court appearance. They applied for free legal aid, but the judge, John Brennan, reserved judgment on that matter and later remanded both men in custody to Cloverhill Prison.
Editor: What are the next steps for these cases?
Detective Marie callely: Both men will appear again in the Portlaoise District Court via video link next week to continue their cases. The proceeding will continue to process the evidence and legalities surrounding these notable drug charges.
Conclusion:
This latest seizure and subsequent arrests in Co Laois highlight the continuous efforts of law enforcement to curb drug-related activities.The collaboration between various teams, including the Dublin Crime Response Unit, is crucial in ensuring the safety and security of communities across Ireland.
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