Jailed for smuggling cocaine

By Jessica Magee

A man has been sentenced to two years in prison for smuggling just under two kilos of cocaine into Dublin Port, with an estimated street value of €138,000.

Lucas Procopio Jefferson (24) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the importation of controlled drugs for sale or supply at the port on June 1 last year.

Passing sentence today, Judge Martin Nolan described it as a “crime of desperation” committed in order to alleviate certain threats and probably for profit.

Judge Nolan noted that Jefferson was from a very poor background in rural Brazil and that he had no record of convictions in Ireland, Brazil, or Portugal, where he had lived for some years.

A prosecuting garda told the court that Jefferson was stopped at the garda immigration desk at Dublin Port, and his suitcase was examined.

It was found to contain a concealed compartment with 1.9 kilos of cocaine.

Jefferson was immediately cooperative and made admissions.

Dominic McGinn SC, defending, said his client was not someone “from a drugs world” but somebody who had been threatened in order to get involved with this criminal enterprise.

Mr McGinn said Jefferson had been working in Portugal for a number of years when he was contacted by others who threatened him and his family.

The court heard that Jefferson is seeking asylum in this country and has used his time in custody constructively, working in the kitchen as an enhanced prisoner and studying several subjects.

Judge Nolan said Jefferson’s English was not great, and an Irish prison would be a very lonely place for him.

The sentence was backdated to the date of Jefferson’s arrest last June.