BREAKING: Man pleads guilty to 'enormous' €21.5m cocaine haul in Limerick

A BULGARIAN national has pleaded guilty to three charges in connection with a €21.5 million cocaine seizure in Foynes Port.

Kamen Petkov, aged 36, of Apartment 15, Varna Street, Vladaskav, Varrevciuk, 131 Bulgaria was arraigned at Limerick Circuit Court this Friday before Judge Dermot Sheehan.

Three charges were put to Mr Petkov with the aid of a Bulgarian translator. He pleaded guilty to the importation of €21,521,604.89 worth of cocaine; possession of cocaine for sale or supply and possession of cocaine at Foynes Port, Foynes on December 19, 2023.

Mark Nicholas SC, who represented Mr Petkov, during the short procedural matter said it was now a matter of sentence.

“It is an enormous amount of drugs,” said Mr Nicholas, who asked for a probation report on his client prior to sentencing.

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Judge Sheehan ordered a probation report to be prepared and adjourned matters until October 14. He asked that a Bulgarian translator be in court on that date.

Mr Nicholas said they will progress matters as best they can.

Judge Sheehan remanded Mr Petkov on continuing custody to appear before Limerick Circuit Court on October 14.

The MV Verila bulk carrier sailed into Foynes Port on December 19 and was subject to a search by Revenue Customs Services officers supported by An Garda Síochána.

It is the largest ever recovered consignment of cocaine seized in County Limerick.