Courts / Dublin / Report
'Mid-level' operative in €8.5m cannabis operation 'marooned' far from home, court told
Summary
Onkar Singh, a 46-year-old Dutch national, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis for sale or supply and possession of €3,035, identified as proceeds of crime, on October 11, 2024. He also admitted to possessing a €5 note intended for identification in connection with a drug trafficking offence. Prosecution evidence alleged Singh was a 'mid-level' operative in an €8.5 million cannabis operation, where he was observed moving pallets containing 426kg of cannabis at a Ballymount storage unit. While defense counsel Garret Baker SC argued Singh was not the architect of the scheme and accepted no forensic evidence directly linked him to the drugs, Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain described the case as 'very serious.' The judge noted it was 'hard to understand' how Singh, who has no prior convictions, became involved. Defense counsel submitted that Singh should be permitted to depart from the presumptive mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, proposing that part of the sentence be suspended on the condition that Singh immediately leaves the jurisdiction. Singh, who has been in custody since his arrest, is described as 'marooned' in an Irish jail far from his family in the Netherlands. The court adjourned the matter until next month for finalisation.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Mid-level' operative in €8.5m cannabis operation 'marooned' far from home, court told. Charges or matters: possession of cannabis for sale or supply and possession of €3,035, being the proceeds of crime on October 11, 2024. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 11, 2024 Incident
- October 9, 2024 Other
- 2026-02-27 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of cannabis for sale or supply and possession of €3,035, being the proceeds of crime on October 11, 2024 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He submitted that if the court suspended part of the sentence on condition that his client immediately leaves the jurisdiction, Singh would comply with this.; Judge Ni Chulachain said this was a "very serious" case and adjourned the case until next month for finalisation.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Business Park
Topics
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