Shawndell Gaston jailed for four years over Dublin cannabis importation

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

Shawndell Gaston was jailed for four years for importing cannabis at Dublin Airport on July 6, 2025. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The proceedings were reported on February 26, 2026.

Gaston, 31, had travelled from New York’s JFK airport with his mother, Hellasha Tingman. Garda Thomas Bourke gave evidence that 48 packets in the suitcases contained cannabis valued at €424,000. Gaston told gardaí he did not know what would be in the suitcases.

Judge Martin Nolan said Gaston’s culpability was at the lowest level and he had no previous convictions. The judge noted that Gaston would serve his sentence in an Irish prison. Garda Bourke agreed with the defence that Gaston and his mother had financial difficulties and that there was an element of naivety.

At an earlier hearing before Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court on July 7, 2025, Gaston and Tingman were each charged with unlawful possession and importation of cannabis, and possession for sale or supply. They were remanded in custody to appear again on July 11 for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The February report said Tingman was to be sentenced the following month in relation to the incident.

This report covers an earlier stage of the case. Later developments are not reported here.