By Eimear Dodd
A man who had €380,000 of cannabis in his suitcase at Dublin Airport told gardai he believed he was carrying bird nests.
Kim Low Swee (35) was observed by customs officials acting suspiciously following his arrival in Ireland from Malaysia on June 2 this year.
He told customs officials that he packed the bag himself, but didn’t know the combination for the lock. When the suitcase was searched, vacuum packed bags containing 19kg of cannabis with a value of appropriately €380,000 was found.
Low Swee’s phone was ringing while he was speaking to customs officials, but he wasn’t allowed to answer it.
He told gardai that he had travelled from Kuala Lumpar in Malaysia to Bangkok, Thailand where he was handed the suitcase. Plane tickets and a hotel in Dublin were also booked for him. Low Swee told gardai he was due to receive the equivalent of €4,300 for carrying the suitcase.
He said he had been called by the person he was due to meet and had been told to say he was carrying bird nests if he was stopped.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that this particular type of bird nest is considered to be a delicacy.
Low Swee admitted that he was aware he was carrying a prohibited item, but that he thought it was bird nests and would face a fine if caught. He said he had done something similar previously and had gone to the UK.
Garda Pearse Dwyer told Grainne O’Neill BL, prosecuting, that Low Swee did not appear to be a man of means and had taken an opportunity to make some extra money.
Low Swee, of Skuoai, Johor, Malaysia was sent forward from the District Court on signed guilty pleas to simple possession of cannabis, possession of cannabis for sale and supply and importation of cannabis. He has no previous convictions.
Gda Dwyer agreed with Michael Hourigan SC, defending, that his client outlined that he had worked in a baby food factory, but lost his job when it shut down during the Covid-19 pandemic. Low Swee then worked in Cambodia until last November.
It was further accepted by the witness that Low Swee was aware he was carrying contraband, but thought it was something else.
Mr Hourigan said his client was due to get a financial reward for his involvement, but did not know the exact nature of what he was carrying.
Counsel said his client was under financial pressure at the time and was told his home was at risk if he didn’t keep up repayments on his mortgage. Low Swee was also under stress at the time due to his mother’s death and the loss of his job.
His client is doing well in custody but will find it more difficult in prison as it won’t be practical for him to receive visits from his family, the court heard. A testimonial from Low Swee’s brother was handed in to court.
Defence counsel asked the court to take into account his client’s early pleas, previous good character and personal circumstances.
Judge Dara Hayes said Low Swee was transporting a “significant” quantity of drugs. He said the aggravating factors included the impact of drugs on society and communities in this country.
The judge noted that Low Swee became involved in this crime for financial gain, but said the court accepted that he was under financial pressure.
Judge Hayes said the mitigation included the signed guilty pleas, his previous work history and personal circumstances.
He said Low Swee’s signed guilty pleas and co-operation allowed him to depart from the presumptive mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.
Judge Hayes imposed a sentence of three years and six months with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The sentence was backdated to June 2 when Low Swee went into custody.