The airport site straddles the Dublin-Kildare border and lies to the west of Lucan and south of Leixlip.

He has numerous previous convictions outside of the jurisdiction, including embezzlement, theft, counterfeit currency and fraud, as well as the drug importation conviction.

Gardaí then found 60kg of suspected diamorphine in blocks inside black bags, hidden in the tail of the aircraft.

A court heard one of them claimed he thought he was carrying "special material" for making microchips, and the other said he was forced.

The men, aged in their 40s and 60s, are due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Monday morning.