South African man jailed for importing cannabis

A South African man caught at Dublin Airport with cannabis worth €62,000 has been jailed for three and a half years.

Joost Joubert (aged 38), from Durban, was recruited by Nigerians to carry the drugs. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 24.5kg of cannabis herb on April 25 last year.

Garda James Smith told prosecuting counsel Mr Robert Barron BL that Joubert's two suitcases were opened after he was interviewed by immigration officials.

Joubert said although he knew he was carrying some illegal material into the country he did not know it was drugs. The Nigerians paid for his flight and accommodation until he was to leave South Africa.

Gda Smith agreed with defence counsel Ms Mary Ellen Ring SC (with Ms Caroline Biggs BL) that Joubert had become very upset when he was interviewed by the gardai and procedures had to be halted for some time after he broke down.

Ms Ring said Joubert had been working all his life but had recently been unable to find work after the close of his business. He had a wife and children in Durban and they had been living with his wife's family.

She said Joubert had never been in trouble with the law before and would not have been before the court if his financial situation had not become so bad.

Judge Yvonne Murphy said this was a serious crime and legislature required a sentence of a minimum of ten years and a maximum of life.

She said, however, that a lesser sentence could be given in cases of extreme or exceptional circumstances.

She added that after taking into account Joubert's age, lack of previous convictions, his co-operation with gardai and that fact he would have to serve his sentence in this country some considerable distance from his family, she would impose a sentence of three and a half years.