A father-of-one who was jailed in Dubai for drugs possession has been jailed for three years for transporting €21,000 of cocaine at Dublin Airport by swallowing the drugs. internally
Lucky Osaseyi (36) served three years of a ten year sentence for the drugs offence in The United Arab Emirates, but was deported back to Ireland in 2011 because of his serious medical condition.
Osaseyi, of Ashford Place, Dublin 7, told gardai he had swallowed 23 plastic wrapped cocaine pellets because he needed the money. He had been put in touch with a person through a friend and had expected to get €980.
He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing 304g of cocaine worth €21,284 at Terminal 1, Dublin Airport on April 28, 2013. He has 11 previous minor convictions from Ireland and one for from Dubai.
Judge Patricia Ryan suspended the last two years of a five year prison sentence on condition that he keep the peace for three years after his release.
Garda Niall Miller told John Quirke BL, prosecuting, that Osaseyi admitted swallowing the drugs the previous morning before he got on a flight from Cameroon through Paris.
He initially claimed to customs officials his trip to Cameroon had been to purchase African food. He then admitted his offence and said he felt unwell and he had to be taken to hospital.
The garda agreed with Gerardine Small BL, defending, that her client’s early guilty plea and full co-operation had been beneficial as there could have been a legal issue had the case gone to trial.
