Controlled parcel delivery of cannabis valued at €210,000 carried out by gardai

Gardai carried out a controlled delivery of a parcel of cannabis valued at over €210,000 after it was intercepted by customs, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard, reports Fiona Ferguson.

Sunday Onwukaike (49) arranged to accept delivery of the parcel, which had come from South Africa, and was arrested once he had signed for it.

Onwukaike, of Drury Park, Saggart, Dublin, pleaded guilty to 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.

The offence comes with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, which a judge can depart from in exceptional circumstances. It has a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Onwukaike, who was on Monday jailed for two and a half years, has two previous convictions for road traffic offences and previously worked as a security guard.

An investigating garda told Jane McGowan BL, prosecuting, that gardaí arranged a controlled delivery of the parcel after it was intercepted by customs. At the address in Lucan, Onwukaike asked the gardaí if they had a parcel for him and signed for the parcel.

He was arrested and indicated that he had been asked to pick up the parcel by another person. He was to receive €1,000 for his role. He believed that the parcel would be smaller and said he needed the money as he was not working.

The court heard the parcel contained 11kg of cannabis with a street value of €211,910.

The garda agreed with Garnet Orange SC, defending, that Onwukaike’s role was to collect the parcel and pass it on.

Mr Orange said his client sincerely apologises for his involvement in the offending and had written a letter to that effect. A letter from his wife speaking highly of him and outlining his remorse was also handed into court.

He said the couple had a child with significant difficulties and complex needs, which required the care of both parents. He handed in documentation relating to the “brutal reality” of his child’s care and maintenance.

Mr Orange submitted that the court can impose a suspended sentence in cases of this kind in rare and exceptional cases, depending on the circumstances of the offender.

He asked the court to also take into account his client’s cooperation in relation to his own role and his early guilty plea.

Passing sentence, Judge Elma Sheahan said the court could depart from the mandatory minimum sentence in the circumstances of this case. She said in relation to the application for a suspended sentence the test of exceptional circumstances was not met.

The judge took into account the seriousness of the offending, as well as his guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, his family circumstances and his remorse.

Judge Sheahan set a headline sentence of five years imprisonment and, considering the mitigating circumstances imposed a sentence of three years imprisonment.

She suspended the final six months of the sentence on strict conditions.