MR DAVID HUCK, the British businessman questioned by gardai about the importation of drugs on the yacht Brime three years ago, is to appear before a British court this morning.
Mr Huck, who owned the ketch which was seized off Kerry with £20 million worth of cannabis in 1993, is accused of attempting to import drugs valued at £12 million into Britain last weekend.
Mr Huck is one of 13 people due to appear before Plymouth Magistrates' Court today after British Customs intercepted a yacht off Cornwall. Four people were arrested on the yacht and airlifted from it and the remaining nine were detained on land.
The yacht, the Fata Morgana, had transported its drug cargo from North Africa, British Customs said. The vessel was detained in what was said to have been the culmination of an investigation lasting several months.
Mr Huck and four others - another Briton, a Dane and a Frenchman - are accused of being on board the yacht seized off Cornwall.
Yesterday, Mr Huck (46) gave an address in Spain when questioned by Customs officers. The three people accused of being with him on the Fata Morgana - Mr Mark Tacey, Mr Patrice Mayer and Mr Mads Tvede - also gave Spanish addresses.
Mr Huck previously lived Co Clare, but left the State after the seizure of the Brime. Gardai said yesterday that they were not aware of any warrant for him in the Republic.
Mr Huck was questioned by gardai after the seizure of the Brime in July, 1993, but there was no evidence to link him to the drugs find. He later left the Republic and property owned by him in the State was sold.