Courts / Dublin / Report

Dad-of-four moved €192k in drugs as 'favour for friend'

Summary

James Preston, a 40‑year‑old father of four, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. He had transported more than €190,000 of cannabis, which Gardaí found in a white VW van he owned, after being stopped on 1 May 2020. The drugs were discovered under a blanket in the van's back, comprising ten vacuum‑packed bags of cannabis resin. Preston admitted he had agreed to move the drugs as a favour for a friend and was not paid. He had 92 prior convictions, including robbery offences, and had been released from custody in May 2018. Garda Margaret Reilly and the prosecution noted that building sites had closed during the Covid pandemic, leading Preston to relapse into drug use and become a courier. The judge described the offence as an isolated incident and noted Preston's efforts to support his family after release. The sentence was four years' imprisonment.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dad-of-four moved €192k in drugs as 'favour for friend'. Charges or matters: possession of cannabis for sale or supply at Tonlegee Road, Raheny, on May 1, 2020. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• May 1, 2020 Incident
• May 2018 Incident
• 2021-01-15 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence Theft

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Read the original CNI report