A lone garda operating a speed check stumbled on an estimated €1.14 million drugs haul when he stopped two men for speeding near Ballinasloe last January.
Garda Brian Campbell, from Roscommon, told Galway Circuit Criminal Court yesterday that when he opened the back doors of a van he had stopped for doing 58 m.p.h. in a 30 m.p.h. speed limit he discovered three holdall bags containing 360 nine-ounce slabs of cannabis resin (88 kilos) wrapped in plastic along with 190 trays of Heineken beer.
Garda Kathleen Duffy, of the Ballinasloe Garda Drugs Unit, said that the street value of the drugs was estimated at €1.14 million - the largest ever intercepted in the area.
Mr Martin O'Connor, of Townparks, Navan, Co Meath, denies being found in possession of the cannabis resin and also having the drug for sale or supply in Ballinasloe on January 20th last. He claims he was kidnapped in Navan earlier that day and thrown into the back of a van.
Co-accused Mr Mark Swan (23), from Woodview Drive, Trim Road, Navan, who was driving, pleaded guilty to having the drug in his possession for sale or supply on the same date. He has been remanded in custody for sentencing at the end of the trial.
Garda Brian Campbell told the court that he stopped the van at 11.25 p.m. and Swan told him he was making a delivery to Galway.
He gave a false name and address when issued with a speeding ticket and ignored the garda when asked repeatedly what was in the back of the van. While checking the out-of-date tax disc, Garda Campbell said he had had a good look at the front-seat passenger, whom he identified in court as the accused.
The garda told Mr Swan to follow him in the van to the Garda station so that he could verify his identity. On the way there the van turned sharply into a yard and both men absconded. Garda Campbell radioed for assistance and opened the van to discover the cache of drugs.
In evidence yesterday, the second day of the trial, Garda Brendan Bradley said that in a search of the area he discovered Mr O'Connor hiding in a bin. He gave his correct name and said he had been kidnapped in Navan and thrown into the back of the van. Mr Swan had been captured by Garda Ollie Baker moments earlier in bushes in a nearby field.
The trial continues today.