Tallaght man jailed after being caught with €850,000 worth of drugs in house

By Claire Henry

A man who had over €850,000 worth of drugs and €200,000 in cash in his house has been sentenced to 11 years in prison. 

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Sebastian Czajka (27) of Old Bawn Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty to three counts of having drugs for sale or supply, along with one count of possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct at the above address on February 18, 2024. He has no previous convictions. 

Passing sentence, Judge Martin Nolan said, “It is the view of the court that this defendant was involved in a serious way and at a high level of drug dealing”.  

Judge Nolan set a global headline sentence of 15 years. He noted there is mitigation in this case and outlined Czajka’s early guilty plea, his age at the time of the offending and that he can still change his life. 

Judge Nolan sentenced him to 11 years in prison and backdated it to when he went into custody on this matter. Defence counsel John Byrne SC asked Judge Nolan if he would consider suspending a portion of the 11-year sentence, but the judge refused. 

The court heard that, following information received by the gardaí, a search warrant was issued for Czajka’s house. Gardaí arrived at the house and saw Czajka leaving with a black rucksack. He began running and managed to make good his escape. The house was searched and cash in the sum of €226,160 was found along with cannabis, cannabis resin, cocaine and ketamine. The drugs were analysed and had a street value of €850,020.

The following day, Czajka presented to the gardai by appointment and was arrested and interviewed on four occasions. During the interviews, he admitted the possession of the drugs and money and told the gardai that he was forced to hold the drugs as he had €200,000 drug debt. He also said that drugs would be dropped off at his house, and he would have to store them and sort them.

A local garda agreed with John Byrne, SC, defending, that his client entered a guilty plea at the very earliest opportunity and noted there was never any question of this case going to trial.

The garda agreed with counsel that Czajka came to Ireland in 2010 and began dabbling in drugs, and started selling drugs, and “he got in over his head”. However, the gardai would not accept that Czajka was pressured into holding the drugs due to a drug debt. He also strongly disagreed that Czajka’s mother was unaware of any of the drug activity.

 Mr Byrne said his client got involved with people who introduced him to the drug scene. He noted that Czajka is now facing a substantial sentence, and all the money involved in this case will be forfeited.

Counsel handed a letter from the accused into court and said that his mother was present in court.

He asked the court to take into account the lack of any previous convictions and to leave some light at the end of the tunnel for his client.