Four men were today brought before the courts in connection with the seizure of €2 million worth of heroin in Dublin.
The co-accused appeared at Tallaght courthouse charged with possession of two kilograms of the drug with intent to supply.
Three of the men, Edward Rooney (20) of Oakdowns, Clondalkin, Peter Kelly (32) of Rolagh Avenue, Clondalkin, and Ryan Kearney (22) of Castlepark, Leixlip, were refused bail and remanded in custody.
The fourth man, 23-year-old Paul Drew, of Ferns Bridge, Ferns Bridge, Monasterevin, Co Kildare, was remanded with consent to bail.
Judge James Paul McDonnell ordered the men to reappear before Cloverhill District Court on Friday morning.
Detectives told the court that it was alleged Mr Rooney collected two kilogram of heroin from an address in Ratoath and, under surveillance, carried the drugs in the back of a van to Saggart.
Det Gda Brian Sourke said when gardaí moved in, the suspect was in the process of breaking open a pallet which had concealed the heroin in the rear of the vehicle.
It was claimed Mr Kelly and Mr Drew had organised the movement of the drugs and were in a second vehicle at the scene.
The four men were arrested on Friday night after a joint operation between members of the Garda National Drugs Unit, the Irish Customs Service, and local gardai.
Five different premises, both residential and commercial, were searched during the raids. Detectives opposed bail on grounds of the seriousness of the charges, the value of the drugs, the likelihood of a conviction and lengthy sentence, and an anticipation of more serious charges pending.
While lawyers for the men made an application for bail with strict conditions, Judge McDonnell criticised the state for failing to provide a representative for the prosecution on such serious matters.
The judge said it was imbalanced and unfair on society for gardai to have to oppose bail against barristers.
"It is a scandal this court is asked to weigh the balance between the two sides when the defence is legally represented and the prosecution chooses not to be legally represented," he added.
"I have said it before and I expect to be saying it until I retire. But there is no harm in repeating it for the benefit of those who do not wish to hear."
Following mitigation from Eoghan Cole BL, Mr Drew was granted bail pending his own bond of €25,000 and an independent surety of €25,000, including a €8,500 cash lodgement.
Bail conditions include signing on at Kildare Garda Station daily and surrendering his passport - which he told the court was in the vehicle seized by gardai.
Following their arrests, the four were initially held at Rathfarnham, Tallaght and Terenure Garda Stations were they were charged last night.
The court heard all the men made no comment or said 'no reply' when charged. All were granted legal aid.