Courts / Dublin / Report
Canadian jailed for smuggling €597k in cannabis
Summary
Shane Romel Bullock, a 29‑year‑old Canadian from Toronto, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importing 29.8 kg of cannabis, valued at €597,048, into Ireland. He was arrested after a customs sniffer dog flagged two suspicious pieces of luggage bearing his name and flight number. Bullock initially denied ownership but later admitted the bags were his, claiming he did not know their contents but had agreed to transport them from Canada to London via Dublin, for a promised €2,000. He has been in custody since his arrest. The court accepted his admission of high risk and reckless conduct, noting his remorse. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, back‑dated to his initial remand in July 2023.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Canadian jailed for smuggling €597k in cannabis. Charges or matters: importation of 29.8kg of cannabis, worth €597,048 at Dublin Airport on July 28, 2023. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- July 28, 2023 Incident
- 2024-03-05 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: importation of 29.8kg of cannabis, worth €597,048 at Dublin Airport on July 28, 2023 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Martin Nolan said Romel Bullock had control of the bags and had been asked to transport them for "a certain reward". "He knew there were illicit substances in the luggage or he was at least highly reckless as to the presence of drugs," the judge said before he accepted that otherwise Romel Bullock has "many good characteristics". "He is a mature man who took a risk and the court cannot condone that," Judge Nolan said before he jailed him for five years, backdated to when he was first remanded in custody last July.; Judge Martin Nolan said Romel Bullock had control of the bags and had been asked to transport them for "a certain reward". "He knew there were illicit substances in the luggage or he was at least highly reckless as to the presence of drugs," the judge said before he accepted that otherwise Romel Bullock has "many good characteristics". "He is a mature man who took a risk and the court cannot condo
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