Courts / Dublin / Report

Student nurse became drugs mule after threats from loan sharks

Summary

Talia Pavia De Souse, a 24‑year‑old Brazilian student nurse and mother of two, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for possession of 330 g of cocaine, worth €23,000, which she swallowed before travelling to Ireland. The court heard that she had taken a €2,700 loan for family expenses in Brazil and was threatened by loan‑shark creditors, which she said forced her to ingest the drugs. She was detained at Beaumont Hospital for three days and was under suspicion after arriving on a newly‑issued Brazilian passport. De Souse pleaded guilty and had no prior convictions. The judge, citing her guilty plea, cooperation, lack of record and the lower amount of drugs, imposed a 21‑month term back‑dated to June 2022 when she entered custody. The sentence reflects her role as a drug mule under financial pressure and coercion.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Student nurse became drugs mule after threats from loan sharks. Charges or matters: possession of cocaine at Dublin Airport, on June 18, 2022. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• June 18, 2022 Incident
• June 2022 Incident
• 2023-02-10 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report