Courts / Dublin / Report
'Foolish' drugs mule thought cannabis was legal in Ireland
Summary
A 23‑year‑old American woman, Tamia Forbes, was found guilty of possession of cannabis for sale or supply after she transported a locked suitcase containing 27 vacuum packs of cannabis worth €260,000 into Dublin Airport. Forbes claimed she believed the drugs were legal in Ireland and said she had financial difficulties. She pleaded guilty and had no prior convictions. The court, mindful of the impact of drug trafficking, imposed a headline sentence of eight years but, considering her youth, guilty plea, character references and mitigating circumstances, reduced the sentence to five years with the final two and a half years suspended. The suspended portion is conditional on Forbes leaving the jurisdiction within three weeks of her release. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 17 June 2024.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Foolish' drugs mule thought cannabis was legal in Ireland. Charges or matters: possession of the drugs for sale or supply at Dublin Airport, on December 23, 2023. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 23, 2023 Incident
- 2024-06-17 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of the drugs for sale or supply at Dublin Airport, on December 23, 2023 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Passing sentence today, Judge Pauline Codd said although Forbes was a mule, there had to be a deterrent to turning a blind eye to the level of drugs one was bringing into the country. Judge Codd imposed a sentence of five years and suspended the final two and a half years on conditions including that Forbes undertake to leave the jurisdiction within three weeks of her release.
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