TWO MEN CHARGED over a seizure of €8m of heroin allegedly flown into Dublin’s Weston Airport last year have also been further accused of “enhancing” organised crime.

The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) and the Revenue Customs Service monitored a light aircraft, intercepted a vehicle as part of an investigation, and arrested two men on 1 December.

The plane was searched, and an estimated 60kg of heroin was allegedly found.

Aradi Ignac, 49, of Kecskemet, Hungary and alleged pilot Zoltan Nemeth, 62, Sukosd, Hungary, were initially charged with unlawful possession of heroin and possessing the seizure with intent to supply at Weston Airport, Co. Dublin, and later with possessing drugs worth €13,000 or more.

Following a remand for the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) directions, they appeared again at Cloverhill District Court and listened to the proceedings with an interpreter.

Detective Sergeant Leo Clayton and Detective Garda Marguerite Reilly charged them with an additional offence of enhancing organised crime. Ignac also had a new money laundering charge for possessing over €3,720 in alleged crime proceeds.

Judge Ramsey noted that the District Court did not have the power to consider bail for the organised crime-related offence, which required a High Court application. He granted legal aid and remanded them in custody to appear again next week.

The DPP has directed trial on indictment in the Circuit Court, and a book of evidence must be completed.

Detective Garda Marguerite Reilly told Judge Kelly that when she first charged Ignac in December, he replied, “I took it because I was forced to, not because I wanted to and for my family’s safety.”

When the additional organised crime offence was put to him, he told her he would not say anything until he discussed it with his lawyer.

Nemeth’s first reply to the charges was, “We didn’t speak about drugs; he told me it was special metal or material for making microchips. I never used drugs; I hate drugs”.

His answer to the extra allegation was, “It is covering the truth from his end”.