Pilot charged over seizure of €8.4m of cocaine to face trial in October

The trial of a pilot charged in connection with an €8.4m seizure of cocaine flown into Abbeyshrule airport in 2022 is to go ahead in October.

Michal Luczak, with addresses at Primrose Avenue, Jigginstown, Naas, County Kildare, and Skerries, Dublin, appeared at a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Court, where it was confirmed his trial was ready to go ahead on October 7.

The 43-year-old pilot is charged with possessing drugs worth more than €13,000 at the Abbeyshrule Aerodrome, on August 4, 2022.

On that day, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), with support from other units, monitored a single-engine Cessna aircraft landing at Abbeyshrule Aerodrome, County Longford, shortly after 6pm.

They later intercepted two vehicles near Lough Owel, County Westmeath, and recovered 120kg of cocaine from one of the cars.

The father of two is pleading not guilty and awaits trial.

He was remanded on continuing bail to reappear on October 7 for trial.