Courts / Dublin / Report
Parcel from South Africa contained €210k worth of cannabis
Summary
Sunday Onwukaike, 49, of Saggart, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of drugs for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with a market value of €13,000 or more at an address in Lucan on July 27, 2024. The court heard that gardaí carried out a controlled delivery of a parcel intercepted by customs, which contained 11kg of cannabis valued at €211,910. Onwukaike signed for the parcel and was arrested, indicating he was paid €1,000 to collect it. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the offence carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, but departed from this in exceptional circumstances. Considering his guilty plea, lack of prior drug convictions, family circumstances involving a child with complex needs, and remorse, the judge set a headline sentence of five years. She imposed a sentence of three years imprisonment, suspending the final six months on strict conditions. Onwukaike, who has two previous road traffic convictions, was jailed for two and a half years.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Parcel from South Africa contained €210k worth of cannabis. Charges or matters: possession of drugs for sale or supply at an address in Lucan on July 27, 2024 when they had a market value of €13,000 or more. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- July 27, 2024 Incident
- 2026-03-16 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: possession of drugs for sale or supply at an address in Lucan on July 27, 2024 when they had a market value of €13,000 or more (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Onwukaike, who was today jailed for two and a half years, has two previous convictions for road traffic offences and previously worked as a security guard. Judge Sheahan set a headline sentence of five years imprisonment and, considering the mitigating circumstances, imposed a sentence of three years imprisonment.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Road Traffic Stage Sentence
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