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French musician jailed for having cocaine at Dublin Airport

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, French musician Serge Elmalem, aged 57 and without a fixed address, was convicted of simple possession of cocaine and two related charges of having the drugs for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on 11 February 2014. The court found that 1.84 kg of cocaine, valued at €123,000, had been hidden in a false bottom of his suitcase, discovered when customs officers x‑rayed him upon arrival from Madrid. Elmalem had previously denied any knowledge of the drugs, claiming a woman had handed him the bag in São Paulo, but he admitted the cocaine was in his possession. He had no prior convictions and had been remanded since the arrest. Judge Patricia Ryan, taking into account his serious health problems, sentenced him to eight years' imprisonment with the final four years suspended, back‑dating the sentence to his initial custody date.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: French musician jailed for having cocaine at Dublin Airport. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

• February 11, 2014 Incident
• 2014-12-17 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report