An English man has pleaded guilty to involvement in a €500 million drugs smuggling operation foiled by gardai, naval service and customs officers off the West Cork coast last year.
David Mufford (44) from Torquay in Devon, pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday to possessing the cocaine for the purpose of sale or supply on board the sloop, Dances With Waveson November 5th, 2008.
Mufford admitted the offence which is contrary to Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act and Section 28 of The Criminal Justice (Illicit Traffic at Sea) Act when he was arraigned at the court this morning.
Defence counsel, Tim O’Leary SC said that his client was anxious to have the matter disposed of as expeditiously as possible and he asked that he be remanded for sentence on May 8th next when two co-accused are due to sentence.
Judge Patrick Moran granted the application and remanded Mufford in custody to appear again on May 8th for sentence alongside Philip Doo (52) from Brixham, Devon and Christopher Wiggins (42) with an address at Estepona, Malaga, Spain.