Site of Laois's largest drug haul was 'a one stop shop for drug trafficking'

Circuit Court Judge Keenan Johnson said two men caught with the largest ever drug seizure in Laois could expect a ten year prison sentence at a minimum. 

Detective Inspector Ken Houlihan of the Dublin Crime Response Team described the operation in Mountmellick where over €12.8 million of drugs were found as “a one stop shop for drug trafficking”.

The men, who entered guilty pleas at Portlaoise Circuit Court in February 2026, appeared before Portlaoise Circuit Court earlier today for sentencing.  

Robert Wojtanowicz (46) of Manor Grove, Mountmellick and Robert Cup(45) of Marlfield Gardens, Johnstown Road, Cabbinteely, Dublin each pleaded guilty to three charges in connection to the seizure of a €14.1 million in drugs in Laois and Dublin in February 2025. 

Wojtanowicz pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine and cannabis worth in excess of €13,000 for sale or supply at Laois Motor Works, Manor Street, Mountmellick on February 4, 2025. 

He also pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of articles intended for use in connection with a drug trafficking offence contrary to Section 183(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 on the same date.  The articles were a grey 171D Renault Traffic van and a 181D registered grey Ford Kuga both with adaptations to conceal contents in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he possessed it for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation, facilitation or instigation of a drug trafficking offence.

The drugs were discovered at a garage and in secret compartments in a number of cars located at Laois Motor Works, Manor Street, Mountmellick on February 4, 2025 and more drugs were located along with €30,950 in cash at Eaton Close, Rathcoole, Dublin. 

The operation, conducted by Gardaí from the Dublin Crime Response Team, resulted in the seizure of 182kgs of cocaine and 4kgs of cannabis herb valued at €12.8 million in Mountmellick and further drugs were found in Dublin bringing the value up to €14.01 million. In all the operation resulted in the seizure of 199kgs of cocaine, four kilograms of cannabis and cash. 

Det Houlihan explained that the men were found at a garage that had been rented out by a local businessman in Mountmellick in 2023. He said “to the untrained eye it might look like a garage” but it was in fact being used to distribute drugs. 

He explained that a number of vehicles at the Mountmellick premises were found to contain drugs. Three of the five vehicles had built-in hydraulic concealments which required a fob to open them.  He said “significant time and effort went into making these hides” and they required skilled labour to construct. 

Det Houlihan said he believed the garage was being used solely to distribute drugs. “This was wholesale distribution of cocaine,” he said. 

He said €12.8 million in drugs were located in Mountmellick and more drugs and cash were found during a follow up search at the home of Mr Cup in Dublin bringing the total to over €14 million. He said 199 kilos of cocaine and four kilos of cannabis were seized in total. 

William Fennelly BL said an agreement had been reached that €20,000 of the cash would be forfeited to the State. He asked Det Houlihan about Mr Cup. 

Det Houlihan said the accused had lived in Ireland for a long time and was the subject of a European Arrest Warrant in relation to a two year sentence in Poland for assault and extortion. He said Mr Wojtanowicz has been in Ireland for a long time. 

Marc Thompson Grolimund SC said his client had been in custody for a year and had enhanced status as a prisoner. He said a governor's report was available. 

Pictured above: The two accused being led from court in February 2025

Dara Foynes SC, for Mr Cup, said a trial would have taken a long time, possibly two to three weeks, had her client not entered a guilty plea. She said her client, who was a mechanic, would be subject of the European Arrest Warrant after his sentence and she asked the Judge to take that into account. 

She said the man came to Ireland in 2005 and wasn’t on the radar of the Gardaí until a few months before this incident. She said he had worked in construction and had managed to get through recessionary times. She said it was accepted that about one third of the cash found in his room was from legitimate earnings. 

Mr Thompson Grolimund said his client was renting the premises and was the registered owner of three of the vehicles. He said his client pleaded guilty and had pleaded guilty before his co-accused. 

Ms Foynes said her client was also a prisoner of enhanced status. She said there were a number of letters from young people who said her client had helped them. She said he has been described as a very kind and generous person. 

Judge Keenan Johnson said there was no evidence that either accused was suffering with addiction. He said there was also no evidence of any “trappings of wealth” but it was an extremely serious crime carrying a maximum of life in prison. 

There is also a mandatory ten year sentence for possessing drugs valued in excess of €13,000.   

Judge Keenan said that at a minimum the mandatory sentence has to be imposed in this case. He remanded the man in custody and adjourned the matter to consider his sentence and put the case back for finalisation at Mullingar Circuit Court on May 19, 2026.