Published Tuesday, 23 February 2010
John Edney, 57, from Sutton-at-Hone, Kent, is alleged to have bought three Land Rovers subsequently used by the gang.
He denies conspiracy to supply the class 'A' drug.
The trial, which began at Blackfriars Crown Court in London on February 11, heard the men behind the plot tried to land 62 bales of cocaine, which weighed 1,554kg, on a remote point of southern Ireland on July 2 2007, using a rigid hull inflatable boat.
Prosecutors, who described the plan as "high stakes", said the drugs were transferred to the RHIB from a catamaran which had crossed the Atlantic from the Caribbean.
But the boat ran out of fuel in rough seas and began to sink, leaving Gerard Hagan and Joe Daly to swim ashore near Dunlough Bay in County Cork.
Martin Wanden had to be rescued by helicopter and was taken to hospital, where he gave a false name.
Wanden, Daly and a third man, Perry Wharrie, were convicted after a trial in Cork, Ireland, while Hagan pleaded guilty.
Retired Metropolitan Police detective Michael Daly, 49, and Alan Wells, 56, have also admitted their parts in the conspiracy.
Edney told the jury of six men and six women he thought the 4x4s were going to be used at a fishing complex in France and said he had no idea there was any link with a drugs plot.
But Mark Gadsden, prosecuting, alleged it was "unthinkable" that the task of providing the vehicles would have been given to someone who was not part of the conspiracy.