Former student of US first lady caught importing drugs at Dublin Airport 

By Isabel Hayes 

A man who was taught by US First Lady Jill Biden when he was a child was caught with €330,000 worth of ketamine in his suitcase at Dublin Airport last year, a court has heard. 

Jonathan Diggins (47), of San Francisco, USA, was arrested when he travelled back to Ireland to search for the suitcase which contained the drugs, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard last Friday. 

Diggins had been travelling from Brussels to San Francisco via Dublin last October when his suitcase missed the connecting flight while he was travelling on to the States.

US clearance officers in Dublin Airport found a false bottom in the suitcase, which contained seven packs of ketamine with a street value of €330,000, Jane Horgan-Jones BL, prosecuting, told the court. 

The court heard that Diggins was arrested at Dublin Airport a few weeks later when he returned to Ireland to look for his lost suitcase. 

He pleaded guilty to one count of importing drugs at Dublin Airport on November 6, 2023.

He has no previous convictions. 

James Dwyer SC, defending, said that his client had no intention of importing the drugs to Ireland; they were simply in transit from Belgium to the States.

However, he said his client pleaded guilty to the charge despite this and cooperated fully with the investigation. 

 He said Diggins was originally from Wilmington, Delaware and was taught by the current US First Lady, Jill Biden, when he was a child.

He has two children and missed his oldest child’s graduation from high school while in custody over here. 

Defence counsel noted it was not a sophisticated operation and Diggins’ decision to travel back to Ireland was “either stupidity or ignorance”. 

 A number of testimonials were handed to the court praising Diggins as a good father. 

 Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the matter for finalisation next Wednesday, July 31.