Suspected crime boss Daniel Kinahan appeared in court in Dublin on Sunday after being extradited from Dubai following his arrest there in April.
Kinahan has been charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation between October 2015 and April 2017.
The 49-year-old was remanded in custody after appearing at the non-jury Special Criminal Court in Dublin, telling the court: " I think we all know I won't be getting bail."
The Kinahan cartel has been responsible for trafficking tonnes of drugs and firearms around the world for more than 20 years, according to the UK's National Crime Agency.
The BBC's Ireland correspondent, Chris Page, was inside the court during the hearing.
