Courts / Dublin / Report

'Crime of desperation': Brazilian drugs mule swallowed 90 pellets of cocaine

Summary

Jonathan Vieira, a 31‑year‑old Brazilian, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for importing cocaine into Ireland by swallowing 90 pellets of the drug. He pleaded guilty to possession for sale, possession of cocaine and importation of cocaine at Dublin Airport on 16 March 2025. Garda Avril Owens reported that Vieira was stopped by customs after flying from Brazil because he was deemed suspicious. He admitted swallowing 90 pellets, passing 71 while in custody, and that the pellets were worth an estimated €48,825 on the street. Vieira claimed he was an Uber driver who had borrowed €2,000 from a debt collector to buy a vehicle, and that he was forced to transport the cocaine to repay the debt within three days. He acknowledged that his actions were illegal but said he felt pressured.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Crime of desperation': Brazilian drugs mule swallowed 90 pellets of cocaine. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• March 16, 2025 Incident
• 2025-10-15 Publication

Why: Garda Avril Owens told Shaun Smyth BL, prosecuting, that Vieira was stopped by custom officers after he flew in from Brazil into Dublin because it was felt that he was "acting suspiciously". CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report