Drug mule jailed for transporting 30kg of cocaine into Dublin Airport

By Sonya McLean

A man who agreed to transport 30 kilogrammes of cocaine in order to pay off a drug debt has been jailed for four years and nine months.

Lucas Calvert (24) was stopped in Dublin Airport after coming off a flight from Abu Dhabi. The drugs were found in his suitcase following a random search of his luggage.

Calvert was homeless at the time and has been remanded in custody since his arrest in June.

He told gardaí that he knew what was in the bag and he was taking full responsibility for it. He said he made bad decisions in his life, had built up a five figure drug debt and was under threat.

“I did it because I had no choice – I was in a predicament and could not say no,” Calvert told gardai adding that he had “zero sympathy” for himself.

Calvert came forward to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court from the District Court on signed pleas of guilty. He pleaded guilty to importation of the drugs, with an estimated street value of €654,000 at Dublin Airport on June 24, 2025. He has previous convictions for drug offences from the UK.

Calvert told gardaí that his tickets and accommodation were paid for and he was handed the suitcase.

Judge Martin Nolan noted Calvert’s previous convictions and the large quantity of drugs he was caught with. He accepted that he entered very early guilty pleas and was a young man.

He said Calvert “deserves a custodial term” before jailing him for four years and nine months.