FOUR MEN HAVE entered signed pleas of guilty in relation to the importation of 440kg of cocaine worth €31 million at Courtmacsherry in West Cork earlier this year.

Mark Doherty, Ben Sandford, Christopher Hibbett, and Levant Gulay appeared before Bandon District Cork in Co Cork earlier today.

The men had been arrested in July of this year following an operation which involved Gardai, the Naval Service and customs. 

All four men range in age from 31 to 45 and are from outside the jurisdiction. They were all charged with five offences.

All four accused were earlier this year charged with possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Meelmane, Courtmacsherry, Co Cork on 1 July 2025.

Last month, the four men were charged with a further offence of possession of more than €13,000 worth of cocaine for sale or supply.

They were also charged with the importation of drugs contrary to the Misuse of Drugs 1984, at Meelmane on 1 July 2025.

Doherty of Waterfront Avenue, Glasgow, Scotland and Gulay of Schwabenstrabe Neu Ulm Bavaria, were also charged with possession of Motorola and Google phones in connection with committing a criminal offence.

Hibbett of Lower Park, Truro, Cornwall, UK and Sanford of Woodgreen, Keith, Moray, Scotland were also each charged with possession of a RIB (rigid inflatable boat) in connection with the commission of an offence. The offences occurred to the same date of 1 July last. 

Defence solicitor, Plunkett Taaffe told Judge Joanne Carroll that Doherty and  Sandford were entering signed pleas of guilty in relation to all five charges.

Solicitor Myra Dineen confirmed that her clients Gulay and Hibbett were also entering signed pleas of guilty to all five charges.

Sergeant Tom Mulcahy said that the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented to all four men being sent forward for sentencing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court in the event of them entering signed pleas of guilty to all five charges. 

Judge Carroll issued the alibi warning. The men were told that if they were to change their plea the DPP would have to be informed within a fortnight of today.

She remanded all four men in custody to appear at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on 10 February next.

Doherty is 40, Gulay is 31, Hibbett is 45 whilst the fourth co-accused Sandford is 39.