Cash totalling £41,000 has been confiscated from a man who Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told "invested in heroin from time to time".
Judge Elizabeth Dunne directed that the money, seized by Customs and Excise officers at Dublin Airport on August 11th, 1998, was from the proceeds of drugs or intended to be used for the purpose of drug-trafficking and should be forfeited to the State.
Mr Leslie Byrne (46), formerly from Dolphin House, Rialto, and with an address at Ingrow Road, Kensington, Liverpool, denied involvement and claimed the money was his life savings. He did not return from Liverpool for the hearing.
Mr Justin Dillon, for Customs and Excise, said gardai discovered that Mr Byrne bought a taxi licence two years ago for £40,000 and told gardai he was trading in jewellery and underwear.