Sniffer dog identifies €1m heroin haul

Customs officials used a sniffer dog to help them when they detected heroin valued almost €1m, which was concealed in furniture that arrived in a container at Dublin Port, the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard today.

Mr Michael O’Sullivan (aged 51), with addresses at Courtown Drive, Knocknaheeny, Cork and Model Farm Road, Cork, denies that on April 1, 2003, he attempted to unlawfully posses heroin for purpose of sale or supply.

Customs and Excise officers John O’Leary and Finbar Jordan, told the jury that five foil-wrapped slabs of a brown substance were recovered from the base of a wall unit in a container of second-hand furniture in mid-March 2003.

A preliminary test at the scene on a sample from one of the slabs indicated it was heroin and following later forensic tests a certificate was issued on April 28, 2003, saying that the slabs were heroin.

The officials said in reply to prosecuting counsel Mr Gerard Clarke SC (with Mr Garnet Orange BL) that the slabs were removed and placed in a secure safe. The container was then sealed again and surveillance on it organised with the Garda National Drugs Unit.

Customs officer Michael O’Sullivan told Mr Clarke that on March 24, 2003, a sniffe’ dog under his control gave "a positive reaction" to a cushion from a couch in the container.

He was present when his colleagues, Mr O’Leary and Mr Jordan, removed the base from the wall unit and found the five slabs underneath some cardboard.

The hearing continues before Judge Frank O’Donnell and a jury of five women and seven men.