DUBLIN, Ireland: A father of two who appeared in court in Cork on January 2, allegedly told gardaí that he had transported around one million euros of drugs each in three drug runs from Dublin to Cork since last October.
He has already been charged in connection with a seizure of 800,000 euros in drugs and cash.
Christopher McCudden of Robin Hill, Sandyford Road, Dublin 14, was charged with eight offences in Cork District Court.
He faces three charges of possession of drugs for sale or supply, three charges involving simple possession of drugs, and two charges of money laundering.
McCudden (38) and Michael Pineda (35), both of Douglas in Cork, were arrested on December 30, 2025, at Maryborough Ridge in Cork city.
They were taken to garda stations for questioning after gardai allegedly observed a drugs transaction between the pair.
Gardaí seized 700,000 euros worth of cocaine, 60,000 euros worth of cannabis, and 40,000 euros in cash. Searches in Dublin led to the seizure of an additional 10,000 euros worth of cannabis and 4,000 euros in cash.
Garda detective Eoghan O'Mahony said that McCudden was caught "red-handed" with the drugs in a van by gardaí.
Five kilograms of cocaine were found in McCudden's Ford Transit van, along with a further three kilograms of cannabis hidden in a tyre alignment machine inside the vehicle. Gardaí also recovered 40,000 euros in cash from the van.
Detective Garda O'Mahony told Judge Catherine Ryan that McCudden made a number of admissions during Garda interviews. He said the accused claimed he had transported between 10 and 15 kilograms of cocaine to Cork each month since October 2025, with each vanload carrying drugs worth about one million euros.
Detective Garda O'Mahony said gardaí believed the operation was sophisticated and that McCudden was a trusted member of an organised crime group. Bail was opposed due to the seriousness of the charges and the possibility of further charges.
He also told the court that McCudden posed a flight risk, citing his links to Northern Ireland and a booked holiday to Spain, with plans to fly to Alicante the following week.
Defence solicitor Donal Daly said his client had arranged a five-day trip to Alicante to stay with a friend who now lives there. He said McCudden did not attempt to flee when arrested and was willing to comply with all bail conditions set by the court.
McCudden denied Garda claims that he would leave the country if granted bail, saying he wanted to remain with his family to put things right. He also denied that the van had been modified and said he had made the drug runs from Dublin to Cork three or four times.
He accepted that he was involved in wrongdoing at the time of his arrest, but said he became involved in the drug runs because of debts.
