DUTCHMAN `VITAL LINK' IN IRISH DRUGS TRAFFICKING

A Dutch national has gone on trial in Amsterdam charged with supplying
ecstasy pills worth nearly pounds 1 million and amphetamines with a street
value of pounds 600,000 to an Irish gangland figure, John Cunningham.

Judges at Amsterdam Criminal Court heard that the accused man, Mr Johannes
Altepost (39) of Oss, who allegedly supplied 100 kg of ecstasy pills and 50
kg of amphetamines to the Irishman, visited a key Irish contact in jail and
had other meetings with suspected associates in Ireland.

When Dutch police raided Mr Altepost's home last June they discovered used
Irish airline tickets, boarding passes and a Dublin hotel key.

A quantity of money hidden away turned out to belong to John Cunningham,
who was already in custody in the Netherlands charged in connection with an
pounds 8 million drugs and weapons smuggling operation.

The 39-year-old Dutchman was a vital link in John Cunningham's operation,
it was claimed at his trial yesterday.

John Cunningham, who absconded from Shelton Abbey Open Prison in Co Wicklow
where he was serving out the remainder of his sentence for the kidnap of
Mrs Jennifer Guinness, has been in custody in Holland since last March.

He is accused of possessing, and trafficking in, ecstasy and amphetamines
worth pounds 2 million, together with cannabis and weapons. His trial was
adjourned for several months on the request of the defence last week.

Further charges relate to smuggling a shipment of 800 kg of cannabis and at
least 15 semi-automatic pistols to Ireland hidden under pallets of pitta
bread discovered in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, in December 1998.

Mr Altepost was further charged with membership of a criminal organisation
involved in drugs trafficking between Holland and Ireland.