A South African man who tried to bring cannabis into Ireland has been jailed for six years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Cornelius Fourie (52), Durban, South Africa, pleaded guilty to possession of 12.6 kilogrammes worth over €32,000 in Dublin Airport on March 10th last year.
Judge Frank O'Donnell said a message must be sent to South Africa that drugs mules would be dealt with severely by the Irish courts because it seemed the contrary idea existed there.
He said another South African drugs "mule" had told gardaí he heard it was not "a big deal" to be caught bringing drugs into Ireland.
"Well let the word go out that it is 'a big deal' and while cannabis is not considered as serious a drug as others, the courts deal every day with offences committed to feed drug addictions", Judge O'Donnell added.
Judge O'Donnell said he felt sorry for Fourie and his wife but not as much as he did for the victims of drug abuse.
Customs officers stopped Fourie on arrival because they had confidential information that a South African might attempt to carry drugs into Ireland. He said a Nigerian friend had packed his luggage and that this man had given him the name of a hotel where he was to ring somebody.
Fourie said he did not know what was in his luggage and 14 packages, later found to be cannabis, wrapped in brown tape were found.