Jailed after he accepted delivery of a package containing drugs to his home

By Jessica Magee

A man has been jailed after he accepted delivery of a package containing almost €190,000 of cannabis herb at his home.

The package, delivered by gardaí, had been detected earlier by a garda sniffer dog at Foyne’s Logistics, Dublin Airport.

It contained over 9kg of cannabis herb and was addressed to David Mbaya at his home in Martello Muse, Balbriggan, Co Dublin.

Mbaya (23) pleaded guilty to possessing the drugs for sale or supply at his home on October 3, 2022.

He was sentenced to two years and ten months in prison at a hearing in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.

Judge Martin Nolan remarked that had Mbaya been older, he would have faced a sentence of about five years, but that he was taking his youth into consideration.

“Young people are quite capable of doing stupid things,” said Judge Nolan.

He added that Mbaya seemed like an intelligent man and that he was capable of changing and reforming himself.

Garda Kieran Moloney told Derek Cooney BL, prosecuting, that the parcel which arrived at a Dublin Airport delivery service gave off a strong pungent smell.

Another garda was tasked with delivering the package to the address on the label and when Mbaya signed for it, he was arrested.

The drugs were analysed by Forensic Science Ireland and found to be 9.4kg of cannabis herb valued at €189,000.

Gerard Kennedy BL, defending, submitted that Mbaya had agreed to accept the delivery because he himself had a drug debt of €2,000.

“That’s the first I’ve heard of it,” replied Gda Moloney.

Mr Kennedy said Mbaya’s instructions were that he had accumulated a drug debt and felt under pressure by third parties when they asked him to accept a delivery of boxing shoes and boxing equipment.

Counsel said Mbaya was reckless in accepting the package and only did so in order to try and alleviate his debt.

Mbaya has nine previous convictions, all for minor road traffic offences.

The court heard he is living with his sister in a stable environment and hopes to get back into working in his chosen field of landscaping.

Mayba has two children and wants to regain contact with them, counsel said.