Courts / Dublin / Report

€830k in cannabis hidden in flat-pack furniture

Summary

In February 2024, a pallet of flat‑pack furniture was seized by Customs after a sniffer dog signalled the presence of drugs. Gardaí conducted a controlled delivery and, upon breaking into the wooden shelves, discovered €830,000 worth of cannabis herb hidden inside. The suspect, Arnoldas Paleckis, 33, of Mariners View, Castletownbere, was apprehended when he arrived in a rental van to collect the pallet. He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing drugs for sale or supply in Newcastle, Co Dublin, and to possessing an encrypted phone for the commission of an offence. Paleckis had a prior conviction for drug production in the UK, for which he received a two‑year sentence. At sentencing, Judge Martin Nolan accepted his guilty plea and remorse, noting the pressure he faced, and imposed a jail term of six years and nine months.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: €830k in cannabis hidden in flat-pack furniture. Charges or matters: one count of possessing the drugs for sale or supply at Newcastle, Co Dublin, on February 13, 2024; having an encrypted phone for the commission of an offence. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• February 13, 2024 Incident
• 2025-02-18 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

Related court reports

• Veteran lorry driver has conviction for failing to remain at accident scene overturned
• Cohabiting woman falsely claimed €110k in Deserted Wife's allowance
• 10 years for 'prolific' offender with 129 previous convictions who repeatedly stabbed doctor during home invasion
• 'Sheer terror': 'Miracle' doctor wasn't killed during home invasion by violent burglar with 129 previous convictions
• Mother who killed children while mentally ill has inquest challenge brought forward
• Teenager avoids jail for throwing airsoft grenade 'for fun'

Read the original CNI report