Donegal Gardai piece jigsaw of evidence in major human trafficking probe

A huge bank of evidence has been put together by detectives probing the case of two men charged with aiding an international crime gang in human trafficking in Donegal.

Georgijs Poniza and Armen Pogosyan have been held in custody since being arrested for the alleged offence in October, 2023.

Poniza, a 35-year-old father-of-four, and 28-year-old Pogosyan, both with an address at Assaroe Falls, Ballyshannon, were brought from Castlerea Prison to appear before Judge John Aylmer at Donegal Circuit Court.

A raft of charges are hanging over each man, including participation in organised crime. The pair have each surrendered their passports.

Barrister Ms Dara Foynes SC, for Poniza, said it has been explained to her cleaner that the court will attempt to expedite the trial.

Prosecuting barrister, Ms Fiona Crawford BL, said that a book of evidence runs to 1,613 pages, which includes a variety of witness statements and financial details. 

Ms Crawford told the court that there are 36 witnesses in the matter.

The book of evidence is being translated into Russian and will then be handed over to the accused. 

The court was informed that the translated book is “almost ready for delivery.

Poniza and Pogosyan were remanded in custody to appear before Letterkenny Circuit Court in February.

“It is a case where the sooner the translated book is given, the sooner we can focus on the issues and speak to the prosecution,” Ms Foynes said.

Barrister Mr Patrick O'Sullivan BL appeared for Pogosyan.  An application from Mr O’Sullivan to have a documentary junior counsel added in the case was refused by Judge Aylmer.

Detectives, accompanied by international colleagues, swooped on the men after a large-scale investigation into the alleged trafficking of persons into Ireland for the purpose of labour exploitation.

Europol officers were in Donegal during an international Law Enforcement Operation, which involved a Joint Investigation Team that was established in conjunction with Law Enforcement in Latvia.

An Garda Síochána’s Human Trafficking Investigation and Coordination Unit (HTICU) at GNPSB, the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB), Garda Mutual Assistance Section and the Garda Síochána Analysis Service (GSAS) are all involved in the probe.

Initially, each man was charged with four counts of human trafficking and one count of money laundering. Poniza was charged with being in possession of €51,100 which was the proceeds of criminal conduct and Pogosyan faced a similar charge in respect of €14,060.

Further, they were charged with participating in the activity of a criminal organisation.

The charge, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006, is that they, for the purpose of enhancing the ability of the criminal organisation to commit a serious offence, human trafficking, for the purpose of labour exploitation within the State, did knowingly by an act, traffic persons other than a child, participate to an activity of that organisation.

They were also charged with two counts of trafficking a person for the purpose of exploiting those persons; with handling, possessing and using property that was the proceeds of criminal conduct, namely €202,621, the source of which was the wages of employees including the victims; a similar charge in respect of an amount of €135,781.82 that represented the wages of employees including the victims while knowing that the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct.

They were further slapped with a money laundering charge over €14,486.57 in a Bank of Ireland bank account and  with money laundering in relation to the transfer of €8,320 to a Swedbank account in Latvia and the transfer of €2,410 to another Swedbank account in Latvia.

They also face eight charges relating to making a false instrument, an Electric Ireland utility bill, and using the bill, as well as opening diesel card and credit card accounts in the name of others with the intention of making a gain for themselves.