Courts / Wicklow / Report
Community service for Romanian man who transported over 600,000 smuggled cigarettes
Summary
A 35‑year‑old Romanian man, Vladislav Secrii, of Iona, Old Connaught Avenue, Bray, was found guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of transporting 606,500 cigarettes without tax stamps on 26 June 2012. He had agreed to move the cigarettes for €200, which included €50 for diesel. Secrii had no prior convictions. The judge, Mary Ellen Ring, considered that he had very little income and could not pay the maximum fine of €126,970 or a five‑year jail term. She therefore imposed a community service order of 220 hours in lieu of a two‑year prison term, pending a Probation Service report that found him suitable for community work. The case involved customs officers discovering the cigarettes on air‑freight cargo from Greece, and a surveillance team saw Secrii and four men loading the pallets onto a trailer.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Community service for Romanian man who transported over 600,000 smuggled cigarettes. Charges or matters: delivery of 606,500 cigarettes without a tax stamp at Cois Cairn estate, Old Connaught Avenue, Bray on June 26, 2012. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 26, 2012 Adjournment
- 2014-11-04 Publication
Why: Secrii later told gardai he abandoned the jeep and trailer at the estate because he had become suspicious of cars parked in the area. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: delivery of 606,500 cigarettes without a tax stamp at Cois Cairn estate, Old Connaught Avenue, Bray on June 26, 2012 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: The judge said it makes more sense to impose a community service order and adjourned the matter again pending a Probation Service report on whether he his is suitable to work in the community. Today Judge Ring noted the report concluded that Secrii is considered a suitable candidate for community service. "The State was at a potential serious loss," the judge remarked before she added that someone was going to make a significant profit from the enterprise.; Judge Mary Ellen Ring adjourned the matter last May having heard evidence to see if Secrii could pay a fine.
Places mentioned
- Old Connaught Avenue
- Bray
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Old Connaught Avenue
Topics
Related court reports
- 'Alternative dispute resolution': man arranged 'straightener' during which dad-of-seven was stabbed to death
- Murder accused pleads guilty to violent disorder at playground
- Former accountant went on 'nationwide tour' with bank card stolen from hospital patient
- State defends use of social media photos in Bray Boxing Club shooter's trial
- Facebook photos of Bray Boxing Club shooter with gun prejudiced his jury, barrister claims
- Suspended sentence for sex assault on girl (6)
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request