Courts / Dublin / Report

Man caught with tablets after agreeing to transport "mixing agent" avoids jail

Summary

Raymond Malone, aged 33, was stopped by gardai on the Tallaght by-pass on 6 June 2015 after driving a van from London that he had flown to collect. The van contained 25,300 diazepam tablets, worth €25,300, and 23.7 kg of benzocaine, a mixing agent used to bulk cocaine, worth €11,850, hidden in a false compartment. Malone pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of diazepam and benzocaine. He had previously been convicted of 11 road‑traffic offences. Judge Pauline Codd found Malone had acted with "wilful blindness" and that his role was that of a courier with little profit. She imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspended for four‑and‑a‑half years, citing his early plea, lack of drug habit, and testimonials. The case highlighted the use of benzocaine as a cutting agent in the drug trade.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man caught with tablets after agreeing to transport "mixing agent" avoids jail. Charges or matters: possession of diazepam and benzocaine at the Tallaght by-pass, Tallaght on June 6, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• June 6, 2015 Incident
• 2017-02-06 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report