Courts / Dublin / Report

"Drug plant" rumbled after garda smelled cannabis

Date
2019-06-05

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Philip Douglas, 31, of Monlea Grove, Firhouse, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession for sale or supply of cocaine at his address and a property in Saggart on October 10, 2017. Prosecution evidence indicated that gardaí discovered a significant quantity of cocaine, bulking agent, weighing scales, a hydraulic press, and large blocks of white powder at the Saggart location. Additionally, three bags of MDMA were found at Douglas's residence. The total value of the seized drugs was assessed at €122,340. Douglas admitted to pressing and wrapping the cocaine on instructions to settle a personal debt. Judge Cormac Quinn described the operation as a sophisticated "coke processing plant" but noted that Douglas was not the mastermind and was acting under fear or threat. The judge acknowledged that Douglas is now drug-free and had returned from Australia to care for his cancer-stricken mother. Douglas, who has five previous convictions, received a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence. The judge suspended the final 18 months of this term on the condition that Douglas engages with addiction treatment services. The matter was concluded with this sentencing order.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Drug plant" rumbled after garda smelled cannabis. Charges or matters: possession for sale of supply of cocaine at his address and at an address in Saggart on October 10, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

October 10, 2017 Incident
2019-06-05 Publication

Why: A man who was operating a "drug plant" which was discovered because a garda smelled cannabis coming from the house has been jailed for three years. CNI source report