Jeferson Pedrucci jailed for cocaine smuggling in shampoo bottles

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

Jeferson Pedrucci was sentenced to five and a half years in prison by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 10 March 2023.

Pedrucci pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on 20 January 2022. The proceedings were reported on 10 March 2023.

The court heard that cocaine worth €154,000 was found in two shampoo bottles, while nearly €500,000 worth was found sewn into the lining of luggage registered to Pedrucci’s companion. The combined value was €651,875. Pedrucci took full responsibility for the drugs.

Defence counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC told the court that Pedrucci owed money to loan sharks in Brazil, who threatened to kill him and his family if he did not transport the drugs. After his arrest and the seizure, threats were made against his mother and sister, who subsequently moved from Brazil to Ireland.

Judge Nolan accepted that Pedrucci was unlikely to reoffend but noted the high value of the drugs and said he deserved a prison term. He ordered that time Pedrucci had previously spent in custody be taken into account.