Courts / Dublin / Report
Xanax addiction saw 'good man' agree to move €150k in drugs
Summary
Jason Smith, 31, of Beechdale Lawn, Ballycullen, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis, cocaine and cannabis jellies in the Dundrum area on 1 June 2023. Garda Kevin Keogh reported that Smith had been seen pulling up beside a parked van, removing an item and placing it in his car. Gardaí later seized a hidden compartment in the van containing vacuum‑packed bags of cocaine. The total value of the drugs seized was €143,697, including €21,612 of cocaine and €119,219 of cannabis. Smith claimed he was unaware the items were drugs, stating he was addicted to Xanax and had accrued a drug debt. He admitted responsibility, expressed remorse, and had cooperated with the investigation. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the mitigating circumstances and sentenced Smith to three years' imprisonment, reducing the headline sentence of six years.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Xanax addiction saw 'good man' agree to move €150k in drugs. Charges or matters: possession of various drugs including, cannabis, cocaine and cannabis jellies in the Dundrum area of Dublin on June 1, 2023. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 1, 2023 Incident
- 2025-01-15 Publication
Why: A "good man" who agreed to pick up almost €150,000 worth of drugs from a van because he had run up a debt from his Xanax addiction has been jailed for three years. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of various drugs including, cannabis, cocaine and cannabis jellies in the Dundrum area of Dublin on June 1, 2023 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He also acknowledged that there were many testimonials handed in which spoke well of Smith and accepted there was good mitigation in the case, including that Smith had pleaded guilty and co-operated with the garda investigation in general. "He was a young man who made a very bad decision to help get this product to market," Judge Nolan said, before he set a headline sentence of six years.
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request