Trio found with €440 million of cocaine receive a total of 85 years imprisonment

July 23, 2008 Three people who were found with €440 million worth of cocaine have been given a total of 85 years imprisonment. Perry Wharrie and Martin Wanden were given thirty years imprisonment, while Joe Daly was given twenty-five.

The trio were involved in a cocaine smuggling operation which took place near Cork, a region of the Republic of Ireland.

According to evidence heard by the court, Perry Wharrie, an Essex, England resident, was given a life sentence in 1985 for murdering a police officer.

Judge Ó Donnabháin made the following comment when sentencing the group:

To described them as mere storemen or carriers is wrong, these men were members of a gang. They knew at all stages what was going on, they hooked up for this crime. There is no evidence that any one of them was the leader but they were definitely very willing lieutenants.

Gerard Hagan, from Liverpool, England, a person who was involved with the group, pleaded guilty at the start of the trial. He said that he was in possession of €13,000 worth of drugs, and intended to sell them.