Four Irishmen arrested in Portugal in connection with the murder of a Cork drug dealer could be held on remand for up to six months before their case comes to trial, The Irish Times has learned.
A Portuguese police spokesman confirmed the Irishmen and a Briton had made an appearance before a magistrate in connection with the death of Corkman Michael "Danser" Ahern. He said the five had been remanded in custody at a local prison in the Algarve pending the investigation, which could take six months.
The body of Mr Ahern (38) was discovered by police in a freezer in an apartment in the Orada complex at the newly developed marina area of Albufeira on Thursday. According to reports in the Portuguese media, Mr Ahern, a native of Churchfield Green, Gurranabraher, Cork, had been badly assaulted and abducted near San Goncalo Hospital in Lagos. Correio de Manha reported he struggled with his assailants as they bundled him into the boot of a BMW and later shot him four times.
According to the report, his body was stored in a freezer by the gang, who had planned to cut it into pieces for easier disposal. It is understood police recovered two guns and arrested two men at the scene, before arresting the three other suspects at Portimao.
Three of the four Irishmen arrested are from Cork city and have links with major drug dealers on the southside, while the fourth man is from Coolock, Dublin. Two of the Corkmen, from Passage West and Douglas, are wanted for minor drugs offences here, while the third man - from Blackrock, Cork - left the city a number of years ago.
According to Garda sources, Danser Ahern was a well-established drug supplier who continued to organise drug shipments into Ireland after leaving over eight years ago. Originally a close associate of the leading drugs supplier in Cork, he later built up his own business. He left Cork after the major dealer was targeted by the Criminal Assets Bureau and lived in Holland and Spain. He was a regular visitor to the Algarve before moving there last January. He returned to Cork occastionally.
Gardaí were slow to speculate on the motive for Mr Ahern's murder, but believe it is to do with international drug smuggling with Irish, British, Spanish and Portugese links.
A man, arrested in Dublin on Friday in connection with the operation, is to appear in Swords District court on drugs charges this morning.
