Daljeet Singh jailed for cannabis possession at Dublin Port

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Daljeet Singh was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 13 November 2024 to six years in prison, with the final six months suspended. Judge Orla Crowe set a nine-year headline sentence before considering his mitigation and backdated the sentence to 3 April.

Singh, 52, of Oldbury, West Midlands, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis herb for sale or supply at Dublin Port on 3 April 2021. The sentencing proceedings were reported on 13 November 2024.

Customs officers stopped Singh during a routine search after he arrived by ferry from Holyhead. They found 50 bags of cannabis herb concealed in cardboard boxes in his van, weighing 55kg and estimated to be worth approximately €1 million. Singh said he was delivering food and water to Cork and had not packed or looked in the van.

During a sixth Garda interview, after gardaí obtained a photograph from inside the van on his phone, Singh accepted that he knew he was transporting cannabis. He said he thought there was one bag, not 50, and that he was to be paid £1,000 to clear an overdraft. He also said he had been under pressure from third parties but did not elaborate.

Garda Stephen Flynn agreed with defence counsel Garnet Orange SC that Singh had been susceptible to pressure from more sinister elements of the community to carry drugs to Ireland. Mr Orange said Singh ultimately made full admissions and had entered early guilty pleas. The court heard that Singh had no previous convictions.