Two friends who transported almost €118,000 worth of cocaine into Ireland after swallowing a total of 189 pellets have been jailed for six years at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Priit Pius (23) of Mustame and Elvis Allak (26) of Thern, both in Tallinn, Estonia, pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply at Dublin airport on July 5th, 2006.
Judge Desmond Hogan said he took into consideration that both men co-operated with gardaí and materially assisted the investigation. He said they would face "undue hardship" being incarcerated in a country away from "kith and kin".
He said that although they were "perhaps duped or cajoled" into getting involved, he must take into consideration drugs legislation, that in such a case a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years and maximum of life should be imposed.
"However, a court is allowed to impose a lesser sentence under special circumstances and in this case I accept there are such circumstances," he said.
Sgt Martin Halpin told Michael Bowman BL, prosecuting, that they had arrived in Dublin after being told there was work in the construction industry here but when they arrived they were told there was no such work and were told to go to Amsterdam where "a company" would give them something to do.