Conor Costello, 31, from Earhart Park, Madamsbank Road in County Londonderry, received a 10.5-year prison sentence in the Republic of Ireland for conspiring to import over 600kg of cocaine valued at €42m (£36.2m).

Six other men also pleaded guilty to the conspiracy between 18 December 2024 and 15 January 2025. Sentences ranged from 10 to 12 years. The group operated in structured cells controlled by others.

Costello joined Miljan Koprivica, 46, from Manchester, Gary Monks, 40, from Glasgow, and Ryan Watson, 32, from near Glasgow as the landing cell. They arrived in Ireland after 6 January 2025 and collected the cocaine from the MV Royal using a rigid inflatable boat on 12 January.

The four men took the drugs from Meenogahane pier in County Kerry to Carrigaholt Pier in County Clare. Gardaí arrested them at the Kerry pier. Phone examinations identified the MV Royal, a Maltese-flagged ship anchored in the Shannon Estuary.

Three Filipino men served as the transport cell: Hanz Pangahin, 36, Christopher Ampo, 44, and Feljon Lao, 29. They loaded the cocaine in 24 bags onto the ship in Brazil. Revenue and Customs with gardaí boarded on 15 January, arresting Lao, with Pangahin and Ampo detained two days later.

Instructions came via WhatsApp from controllers using pseudonyms. The transport cell followed orders from someone with a Finnish SIM claiming a Dubai base. The landing cell received directions from figures known as Albert with an Argentinian SIM and Danny Greene, who sent coordinates on 9 January and assigned roles.

The court heard the men formed part of a sophisticated operation with international links. Each received recruitment based on skills including maritime experience.