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'I did it because I had no choice' - drug mule jailed for four years and nine months

Summary

A 24-year-old man, Lucas Calvert, has been jailed for four years and nine months after being found with 30 kilogrammes of cocaine in his suitcase at Dublin Airport. Calvert, who was homeless at the time, claimed he had no choice but to transport the drugs to pay off a drug debt. He admitted to gardaí that he knew what was in the bag and took full responsibility for it. Calvert had previous drug convictions from the UK and had been remanded in custody since his arrest in June. Judge Martin Nolan noted Calvert's previous convictions and the large quantity of drugs he was caught with. He accepted that Calvert entered early guilty pleas and was a young man, but stated that he deserved a custodial term for his actions.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'I did it because I had no choice' - drug mule jailed for four years and nine months. Charges or matters: importation of the drugs, with an estimated street value of €654,000 at Dublin Airport on June 24, 2025. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• June 24, 2025 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2025-12-03 Publication

Why: "I did it because I had no choice – I was in a predicament and could not say no," Calvert told gardai adding that he had "zero sympathy" for himself. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report