Waterford courier jailed for bringing ketamine through Dublin Airport

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

Conor Freeman, of Rockenham, Ferrybank, Waterford, was jailed for four years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to possessing 2kg of ketamine, valued at €119,310, at Dublin Airport on April 9, 2017. The proceedings were reported on February 7, 2018.

The court heard that Freeman had amassed a €5,750 cocaine debt while he and his partner lived in the UK. His barrister, Paul Comiskey O’Keeffe BL, said Freeman moved to Waterford for a “clean break” but was tracked down by third parties through his business adverts on social media. Counsel said Freeman agreed to transport the drugs to offset the debt.

Detective Garda Ian Mangan said customs officers stopped Freeman as he entered the country from Eindhoven in the Netherlands. He said they found £12,000 in cash and three containers labelled “bath salts” in his luggage. The officers seized the money but let Freeman go because there was no on-the-spot test for ketamine. After forensic examination of the drugs, gardaí contacted Freeman and he made full admissions in interview.

Judge Nolan accepted that Freeman was unlikely to re-offend and noted that he worked hard at his courier business. The judge imposed the four-year sentence and ordered the £12,000 confiscated by the State.