Irishwoman nabbed in Norway with £1 million worth of Thai cannabis
The sensational arrest of an Irishwoman in Norway with a £1 million (44 million baht) haul of cannabis, allegedly trafficked from Thailand, has unearthed a much larger drug trafficking ring.
The 32 year old was apprehended by Norwegian police at Oslo’s Gardermoen Airport on Thursday, January 9. She is suspected of attempting to smuggle 41.7kg of cannabis.
Upon her arrest, the Irishwoman, from Drogheda in County Louth, reportedly claimed that the suitcases containing the illicit haul were handed to her by someone in Thailand, and she was oblivious to their contents.
Despite her protestations of innocence, the court granted the prosecution’s request for her continued imprisonment, extending her detention by up to four weeks.
Court documents, obtained by The Irish Mirror, disclosed some interesting reading.
“The court finds that the accused can still be reasonably suspected of a criminal offence which may result in a higher penalty than imprisonment for six months.”
Further details emerged, painting a picture of a complex and far-reaching criminal network tied to the woman’s arrest.
Evidence connects her to a notorious gang from Drogheda, led by two brothers currently at large with serious charges hanging over them.
The brothers are allegedly at war with associates of the infamous mob boss Owen Maguire, who himself was shot multiple times by the now-deceased serial killer Robbie Lawlor in a 2018 gangland feud that claimed four lives.
The Irish Mirror’s source revealed there has been a serious crackdown on the gang recently.
“Several members have already faced money laundering charges, and this latest bust is a significant blow to their operations. It really hits them where it hurts: in their pockets.”
The ongoing feud, which reached a violent peak in July 2018 after Maguire was left paralysed from multiple gunshot wounds, has unleashed over 100 serious criminal incidents. This includes not only shootings but also petrol bombings, assaults, and even kidnapping, leaving a trail of chaos and bloodshed.
Among the victims of this brutal feud was teenager Keane Mulready-Woods, who met a gruesome end when he was murdered and dismembered in a horrific attack.
The recently arrested woman, who remains unnamed, claimed in court documents that she planned only a stopover in Norway en route to Ireland, providing no explanation for the large cannabis stash in her luggage.
Her lack of connections in Norway led the court to deem her a flight risk.
“The court believes there are clear indications that the accused will evade both prosecution and execution of the sentence if released.”
This high-stakes story of international smuggling and vicious gang warfare has sent shockwaves through both the Irish and Norwegian legal systems. Despite the immediate success of thwarting this million-pound drug trafficking attempt, police remain vigilant, seeking further ties to the syndicate.
Arrest warrants have been issued for two brothers from the gang, believed to be in a bloody feud with Maguire’s associates. Due to serious charges, their identities remain classified.
As the Irishwoman remains in custody, the investigation continues to unravel, potentially exposing deeper layers of organised crime reaching from the lush landscapes of Thailand to the northern reaches of Europe.
With her court hearing resulting in an extended detention, the captured woman, absent from court, faces a daunting legal battle ahead.
“In light of the fact that she risks a not insignificant prison sentence, there are clear indications that the accused might evade both prosecution and the execution of the sentence if released.”
As the investigation deepens, the repercussions of this significant seizure will likely ripple far beyond Oslo, sending a message to drug lords that their operations are far from invincible.
Latest Thailand News
