The Criminal Assets Bureau has secured judgment for almost £450,000 for alleged unpaid taxes and interest against an Englishman, David Huck, whose yacht, containing £20 million worth of cannabis, was intercepted off the Co Kerry coast seven years ago.
Huck fled Ireland in 1993 after his yacht Brime was boarded by the Naval Service and the drugs were found. Four people on board the vessel were subsequently jailed for 10 years.
In October 1996, Huck was arrested aboard a boat in the Bay of Biscay and was taken into custody. In 1997, he was jailed for 14 years on charges of conspiring to import drugs into Britain.
At the High Court yesterday, Mr Hugh O'Neill SC, for CAB, asked Mr Justice Finnegan to grant judgment in the sum of £449,542.01 against Huck in respect of alleged unpaid taxes and interest for the years 1992 and 1993. There was no appearance for Huck during the hearing but a letter from him was handed in to the judge.
A CAB officer said Huck had property at Ogonellow, Aughinish, Killaloe, Co Clare. The officer said she had served notice of the proceedings at that address and had also served notice personally on Huck in prison.
The judge said he would enter judgment for the sum sought. In light of this, a previous order restraining Huck from reducing his assets in the State below £450,000 fell. He awarded costs of the application to CAB.
