Courts / Dublin / Report

British teen 'caught red-handed' with €250k in cannabis

Summary

Lucas Matley, a 19‑year‑old from Manchester, was caught at Dublin Airport with 12.8 kg of vacuum‑packed cannabis worth about €257,860. He had travelled to Las Vegas for five days to pick up the suitcase and then flew to Ireland, claiming he was paid £5,000 to transport the drugs. Matley pleaded guilty to having the drugs for sale or supply at the airport on 10 March 2024. Judge Orla Crowe noted his lack of prior convictions and cooperation with Gardaí, and considered mitigating factors such as letters from his former school. She imposed a headline sentence of four years but reduced it to three years, suspending the final six months for one year. The sentence was imposed at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after a Garda investigation that found 28 vacuum‑packed packages in his luggage.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: British teen 'caught red-handed' with €250k in cannabis. Charges or matters: having the drugs for sale or supply at the airport on March 10, 2024. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• March 10, 2024 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2024-11-12 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report