A Swords resident who accepted a package from a garda dressed as a postman has been found not guilty by direction of Judge Patrick McCartan of possessing cannabis for sale or supply.
Ncedisannani Swana, of Castleview Walk, was acquitted on the second day of her trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following legal argument in the absence of the jury concerning the delivery of the package which originated in South Africa and was addressed to a "Mr Barry Gorman" at her address.
Garret Baker, prosecuting, had told the jury that Ms Swana accepted and signed for the package when it was delivered by Det Willie Armstrong who impersonated a postman. The package was retrieved soon afterwards during a search of the house.
Mr Baker told the jury that Customs and Excise officers in the Portlaoise mail sorting office had opened the package after becoming suspicious and found it contained what they believed was cannabis.
They handed it to gardaí.
Judge McCartan ruled that because the evidence had been "tampered with", the case couldn't proceed.
He directed the jury to find Ms Swana not guilty.
She had denied possession of cannabis for sale or supply at her home on October 21st, 2005.