Two women charged over €1.4m bullion seizure

Two women in Dublin have been charged with money laundering and possession of gold bullion worth €1.4m (£1.2m).

Jelana Idele, 58, of 20 Glenbourne Walk in Leopardstown and Svethana Bahtajeva, 38, of Earslfort Court in Lucan, appeared at Blanchardstown District Court on Wednesday morning.

Both were charged with counts of possession of proceeds of criminal conduct and money laundering.

During searches in Dublin last week, police seized the gold almost alongside €500,000 (£416,000) in cash and a quantity of suspected cocaine.

Gold bullion is the collective name used for investment grade gold of known weight, fineness and at least 99.5% purity.

Bullion is the physical form of gold held as bars ingots, or coins.

It is commonly held as reserves by central banks.

Ms Idele is separately charged with possession of drugs, MDMA and cocaine, for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying it to another.

When charged on the drug offenses, Idele replied that she was “not owner of the drugs” and repeated “doesn’t belong to me.”

Ms Bahtajeva is charged with possessing another €58,850 in cash, allegedly the proceeds of criminal conduct, after a search of her home.

Both women have requested a Russian interpreter.

Both women made no application for bail and were remanded to Dóchas Centre.

They will appear in the same court via video link on Friday.