Seven years for South African caught in Garda drug sting

A FORTY-YEAR-OLD South African man who was yesterday given a seven-year jail sentence for having more than €134,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply, still protested his innocence, the Circuit Criminal Court was told in Tralee, Co Kerry.

Premier Mthethwa of 35 Cnoc Gorm, Knocknacuig, Tralee, had been convicted by a jury earlier this week of having the drugs in Tralee on October 5, 2006.

He had pleaded not guilty to three charges which arose from an elaborate garda sting operation.