Belgian admits importing €100,000 worth of cocaine
A Belgian national admitted today that he unlawfully imported over €100,000 worth of cocaine into Cork Airport last May.
Michael Marquet, aged 27, of 4 Place Jeff, Mennekens, Molen Beech, St. Jean, Brussels, was found with one-and-half kilos of cocaine in Cork Airport.
In the meantime an extensive investigation was carried out in Ireland and in Europe in relation to where this man’s travels originated from and related matters. A large book of evidence was also prepared.
Today he pleaded guilty to two charges on the indictment against him. Marquet admitted the charge of possessing cocaine for sale or supply at Cork Airport on May last at a time when its street value exceeded €13,000 figure.
This is the threshold figure for the mandatory sentencing of up to life imprisonment or a minimum of ten years on conviction, unless a judge finds there are exceptional circumstances that enable him to depart from the mandatory provisions.
Marquet also admitted a charge brought by Customs and Excise, namely that he was knowingly involved in the importation of €102,956 worth of cocaine at Cork Airport on the same occasion.
Defence senior counsel, Blaise O’Carroll said the Gardaí had confiscated the defendant’s passport and that he had been remanded on bail for the past few months without any difficulty. He said Marquet was living and working in Carlow and had honoured all the conditions of his bail to date.
Mr O’Carroll also said the defence were seeking a probation report on the defendant in advance of sentencing.
Judge Patrick J. Moran remanded him on the same bail terms to appear again before Cork Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing on February 25.
