A South African has been jailed for five years by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for storing a suitcase of cannabis in his flat.
James Chipi Renald (29), of Seville Place, Dublin, pleaded guilty to having cannabis resin for sale and supply and valued in excess of £10,000 on September 29th, 1999.
Det Garda John Heeney told Mr Hugo Hynes, prosecuting, officers found the suitcase in the bedroom of Renald's flat after they gained entry with a search warrant. The cannabis had a street value of £18,600 and was found under clothes in a hidden compartment in the suitcase.
He said Renald was asked to store the package at his flat on behalf of another man who was not named in court. He was promised £200 which he never received. Renald was a "hardworking man" who had applied for refugee status in December 1998, and had been living at the flat with his girlfriend for four months prior to the search. He had no previous convictions.
Judge Dunne said the drugs were valued at more than £10,000 and she could not ignore the seriousness of the offence.