Courts / Kildare / Report

€1.4m in cocaine falsely addressed to South African "consul", court hears

Date
2017-10-09

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Kildare

County
Kildare

Summary

Ibrahim Lawel, a 36‑year‑old Nigerian resident of Marina Court, Athy, pleaded guilty in Naas Circuit Criminal Court on 25 May 2011 to possession of cocaine for sale or supply in County Kildare. The cocaine, worth €1.4 million, had been delivered in a green bag marked "Diplomatic Mail" and falsely addressed to a fictitious South African consul, Tony Tuto, at his own address. Lawel accepted the parcel, signed for it, and later left the premises in his car. He claimed he was unaware of the drugs and had signed as a favour for a friend, a plea based on recklessness. The original 10‑year sentence, with the final three years suspended, was quashed by the Court of Appeal, which found the mitigating discount inadequate. Lawel was resentenced to six years imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, after the Court of Appeal reversed a prior discharge and reinstated the charge.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: €1.4m in cocaine falsely addressed to South African "consul", court hears. Charges or matters: possession of cocaine for sale or supply in the county on May 25, 2011. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

May 25, 2011 Incident
March 14, 2016 Incident
July 2012 Incident
2017-10-09 Publication

Case subjects

Ibrahim Lawel

Appellant

Charges: possession of cocaine for sale or supply in the county on May 25, 2011 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with the final three suspended by Judge Michael O'Shea on March 14, 2016. Lawel was accordingly resentenced to six years imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended.