Spain-based builder held over €4.7m south Dublin cocaine haul

A Spanish-based UK builder has been remanded in custody after gardaí charged him over a seizure of almost €4.7 million worth of cocaine in Dublin.

Officers from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) stopped a vehicle on Friday in the Leopardstown area.

During the operation, 67 kilogrammes of cocaine, with an estimated street value of €4,690,000, was seized.

Gardaí arrested Bradley Lewis Spencer (27) of Corian, Pueblos Los Olieos, Malaga, Spain, and detained him under section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996, at Dundrum Garda station over the seizure.

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He appeared before Judge Conal Gibbons at Dublin District Court on Monday. He is accused of possessing cocaine with intent to supply, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Dressed in a T-shirt and shorts, he spoke only to confirm he had legal representation.

Det Garda Patrick Hearne told the judge that Mr Spencer had “made no reply” when charged at 12.01am on Sunday. The court heard he had been handed copies of the charges.

Det Garda Hearne told the court there would be objections to bail. However, defence solicitor Jeremy Breen informed the judge that “there is not an application for bail at this time”.

The judge remanded Mr Spencer in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Thursday. The accused, via his solicitor, applied for legal aid.

The judge queried if there was a Garda objection and the GNDOCB detective said he was looking for a statement of Mr Spencer’s means.

Mr Breen said the statement was available.

He added that his client, an unemployed builder, was a UK national residing in Spain.

The judge deferred a ruling on legal aid “until I get more information”.

Mr Spencer has not yet indicated how he will plead.