THE 1.5 TONNES of cocaine recovered off the west Cork coast last year had a purity level 10 times that of cocaine typically found on Irish streets, a forensic scientist told the trial of three Englishmen yesterday.
Dr Geraldine O’Neill of the State’s Forensic Science Laboratory told Cork Circuit Criminal Court how she conducted tests on cocaine found in the 61 bales recovered at Dunlough Bay in July 2007.
Dr O’Neill said the cocaine had an average purity level of 75pc.
Gardaí asked her to examine data collated by the laboratory on cocaine seized in street deals between February and November 2007, and she found the average purity level was 6.7pc.
Three Englishmen, Martin Wanden (45), of no fixed abode, Joe Daly (41), Carrisbrooke Avenue, Bexley, Kent and Perry Wharrie (48), Pyrles Lane, Loughton, Essex, deny possessing cocaine for sale or supply at Dunlough Bay on July 2nd, 2007.
The jury of nine men and three women also heard evidence yesterday from Sgt Gerard Prendiville of Schull Garda station. He arrested Mr Daly and Mr Wharrie on the morning of July 4th, 2007, after getting a tip-off from a passing motorist.
Sgt Prendiville told how, upon receiving the phone call around 9am, he alerted his colleagues in the district before proceeding immediately in his own car to Gubbeen on the coast road between Schull and Goleen, where he came upon farmer Tom Ferguson.
Mr Ferguson was driving a herd of cows along the road and in the middle of the cows were two dishevelled men.
Sgt Prendiville arrested them and they were brought to Bantry Garda station for questioning.
The jury also heard evidence from Customs officers Richard Cantillon and John Finn regarding how they recovered a waterproof box from near Dunlough Bay just 24 hours after the discovery of the sunken RIB and bales of cocaine.
Mr Cantillon said he spotted the box on rocks near the shore. It was found to contain a mobile phone, a satellite phone, a hand-held Garmin GPS device, a hand torch and a small knife.