Courts / Dublin / Report

73-year-old Dutch man jailed for seven years over €4.7 million cannabis haul

Date
2015-03-24

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Cornelius Van Gent, a 73-year-old Dutch national, was sentenced to seven years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his involvement in a large-scale drug operation. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Van Gent, who had no prior criminal record, was not at the upper echelons of the group and allowed him to depart from the mandatory minimum sentence due to his age, plea, and cooperation. Van Gent pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis resin for sale or supply at North City Business Park, Finglas, on May 16, 2014, and possession of cannabis herb at Ikea on May 2, 2014. His co-accused, Sean Mahony and Peng Cheng, also pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at locations in North Dublin on May 16, 2014. Mahony, who gardaí accepted acted as a courier to pay off a drug debt, was jailed for six years earlier this month. Cheng, who claimed he was involved to pay a gambling debt, was jailed for nine years. The court heard that gardaí intercepted 72.7 kg of cannabis in a van and discovered a further 137 kg of herbal cannabis and 88 kg of resin in a warehouse, with a total estimated value of nearly €4.7 million. The drugs were concealed within boxes of Basmati rice.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 73-year-old Dutch man jailed for seven years over €4.7 million cannabis haul. Charges or matters: possession of drugs for sale or supply at locations in North Dublin on May 16, 2014; possession of the drugs found in North City Business Park, Finglas, Dublin was jailed for nine years; possession of cannabis resin for sale or supply at North City Business Park, Finglas on May 16, 2014; possession of cannabis herb at Ikea on May 2, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

May 16, 2014 Incident
May 2, 2014 Incident
2015-03-24 Publication

Why: Mahony, who gardaí accept acted as a courier in order to pay off a drug debt, was jailed for six years by Judge Martin Nolan earlier this month. CNI source report

Case subjects

Peng Cheng

Convicted Person

Charges: possession of drugs for sale or supply at locations in North Dublin on May 16, 2014; possession of the drugs found in North City Business Park, Finglas, Dublin was jailed for nine years; possession of cannabis resin for sale or supply at North City Business Park, Finglas on May 16, 2014; possession of cannabis herb at Ikea on May 2, 2014 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Mahony, who gardaí accept acted as a courier in order to pay off a drug debt, was jailed for six years by Judge Martin Nolan earlier this month. Cheng, who also pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs found in North City Business Park, Finglas, Dublin was jailed for nine years.

Sean Mahony

Convicted Person

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Mahony, who gardaí accept acted as a courier in order to pay off a drug debt, was jailed for six years by Judge Martin Nolan earlier this month.

Van Gent

Defendant

Charges: possession of cannabis resin for sale or supply at North City Business Park, Finglas on May 16, 2014; possession of cannabis herb at Ikea on May 2, 2014 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Nolan said Van Gent's co-operation, his plea and his general circumstances, including his lack of a criminal record and his age, allowed him to "depart from the mandatory minimum sentence" before he sentenced him to seven years.