Men seek bail over €50,000 drugs and €22,500 cash found at Portlaoise hotel at weekend

Bail applications were made for two men who were arrested in connection with the seizure of €22,500 in cash and drugs valued at €50,000 at a hotel in Portlaoise at the weekend. 

Arkadiusz Czarnohorski (48) with an address at Apartment 18, Deerpark Road, Kiltipper, Tallaght, Dublin 24 and Algimantas Mikstriunas (34) of No Fixed Abode, were arrested at the Midlands Park Hotel, Jessop Street, Portlaoise on Saturday, April 12, 2025. 

They each appeared before Portlaoise District Court charged with possession of amphetamines and cocaine for sale or supply at the Midlands Park Hotel, Jessop Street, Portlaoise on April 12. 

Objecting to bail, Detective Garda Neil Slevin said the first accused was arrested at 6.51pm and taken to Tullamore Garda Station where he subsequently made no reply to the charges. He said the DPP directions are awaited and there was an objection to bail. 

Det Slevin said he had observed the defendants talking to an “international drug dealer” who is a member of an eastern European criminal gang at around 6.30pm. He said gardaí followed the two men to a black 131D Opel Insignia car which is registered to the first accused. 

Det Slevin said the defendant was stopped and found in possession of a small quantity of cocaine. He said a search of the car uncovered a kilogram of amphetamines and half a kilogram of cocaine worth €50,000 located in a purpose-built concealment behind the radio of the car.  Det Slevin said the co-accused had a grey duffle bag containing €22,500 in cash. 

Det Slevin said the first accused had been “caught red handed” and had admitted to working as a drugs courier and placing the drugs in the car. 

He described the man that both defendants had been seen talking to prior to their arrest as a “transnational drug dealer” who he said is a member of an eastern European crime gang. 

Det Slevin said the accused had made admissions after caution and “admitted in interview that he was operating as a drug courier and the drugs were for onward transmission.” 

He said gardai had obtained CCTV footage putting the accused at the vehicle. He said the man had told gardaí he had been forced to leave a fulltime job with UPS in order to work as a drugs courier to pay off a €35,000 drug debt which was now down to €7,000.  

Det Slevin said the man was forced to transport “illegal drugs, cash and persons involved with the drugs trade” due to the debt.  He said the man was not in receipt of any social welfare. 

“I do not believe he will answer bail,” said Det Slevin. 

He told the court the defendant would now owe a debt for the drugs that were seized and said he believed the man would have no option but to commit offences in order to pay the debt. 

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald described this suggestion as somewhat speculative. He said his client had an address in Tallaght which is within the jurisdiction. 

Det Slevin said the man was renting at that address in Tallaght but had a partner and child living in Belfast.

Mr Fitzgerald noted that while the alleged value of the drugs was not "insignificant" the appraisal was subject to analysis. 

Det Slevin suggested the drugs could “be far more valuable”  depending on analysis.   

Mr Fitzgerald said his client enjoyed the presumption of innocence. He said the man is willing to abide by whatever conditions the court deemed appropriate for bail including a daily sign on at a garda station, surrendering his passport and obeying a curfew. 

Garda Sergeant Colin O’Leary said he would have concerns particularly in relation to the ease of travel between Ireland and the UK. 

Judge Susan Fay said the accused comes before the court an innocent man but she had to consider the totality of the evidence. She refused bail, granted legal aid and remanded the defendant in custody to appear at a later date. 

The second accused, Aligmantas Mikstriunas, also applied for bail at the sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

Detective Garda Joe Fahy gave evidence of arrest and charge and said the defendant made no reply. He said there is an objection to bail. 

Det Fahy said gardai from the Laois Drugs Unit had followed the defendant and another man to a car at the Midlands Park Hotel and he had been stopped as he opened the rear passenger door. He said the accused was in possession of €22,500 in cash in a gear bag. He said the accused failed to provide any legitimate reason for having the cash. 

Det Fahy said he did not believe the accused would answer bail. He said the man had stated that he had no current address and he wasn’t in receipt of social welfare. 

Paul Noctor BL asked why gardaí felt his client was acting suspiciously. 

Det Fahy said the man was seen “speaking to a male who is a known drug dealer and a member of an international criminal gang.” He said the man was found with a large quantity of unexplained cash and that there were drugs valued at €50,000 in a “sophisticated purpose built concealment within the vehicle.”

“It is likely that he didn’t know there were drugs in the car,” said Mr Noctor. 

Det Fahy said he found the suggestion highly unlikely. 

Mr Noctor then asked about the cash which had been found. 

Det Fahy said the cash had been in two €10,000 bundles along with a €2,500 bundle. He said the defendant had said it was “to do with the collection of empty beer kegs. This again raised concerns.” 

Det Fahy said it raised concerns as it sounded like a known money laundering scam linked to the Russian mafia. 

“There is no evidence of this scam,” said Mr Noctor. 

He said his client was a Lithuanian national who “vehemently denies the charges” and enjoys the presumption of innocence. 

“He had nothing to do with these drugs,” said Mr Noctor. He said he had €22,500 and said it was money he used for beer kegs. 

“He transports these kegs back to London, Lithuania and, believe it or not, Russia,” he said. 

Mr Noctor said there was no evidence that his client would not appear in court. He said he was willing to sign on daily, provide an address and phone number, and abide by any other conditions the court deems necessary. 

Judge Susan Fay said after considering the totality of the evidence she was refusing bail. She granted legal aid and remanded the defendant to appear in custody to appear on a later date.