The state’s book of evidence against seven men accused of conspiring to import drugs off the Kerry coast will be served on them in four weeks.
The seven men will learn in two weeks in what court they will be prosecuted, and whether further charges are being brought against them.
The men were arrested in Kerry and Clare in January, and have all been on remand in custody since.
Four of the men are charged with conspiring with each other to import drugs worth more than €13,000 into Ireland.
They are 31-year-old Ryan Watson, 40-year-old Gary Monks, both from Glasgow, 30-year-old Conor Costello of Madam’s Bank Road, Derry, and 45-year-old Miljan Koprivica of Bollin Drive, Manchester; all of these men are in custody in Portlaoise Prison.
The other three co-accused are Filipino nationals 29-year-old Feljon Lao, 36-year-old Hanz Pangahin, and 43-year-old Christopher Ampo, and they also face charges of conspiring to import drugs worth more than €13,000; these three men are all being held in Cork Prison on remand.
At Tralee District Court this morning, Sergeant Chris Manton said the venue in which the men’s cases will be heard, and formal DPP directions, will be decided in the next week.
He said further charges are still being considered.
This will mean the men will find out in their next court appearance, in which court they will face trial or sentencing, and whether more charges will be brought against them.
Sergeant Manton added that the book of evidence against all seven men will be ready in four weeks.
Once the book of evidence is served on them, they can then be sent forward and their trials will be listed in a higher court.
Solicitor Pádraig O’Connell, who represents the three Filipino defendants, told the court that if the book of evidence is not ready in four weeks, he will be applying to have the matter to be struck out.
