Man found guilty for role in €29m cocaine operation

A man has been found guilty for his role in a €29m cocaine operation.

Abraham Shodiya of Carnlough Road, Cabra in Dublin denied having anything to do with it and relied on evidence that he was used as a 'pawn'.

The 44-year-old father of four, was arrested following a surveillance led operation in June of last year.

On June 18, 2012 a major consignment of cocaine was brought into Dublin Port and Gardai followed it as it was brought to a warehouse in Ballycoolin.

Shodiya was tailed after being spotted taking several wheelie bins away from the warehouse.

He was arrested outside a hotel in Tallaght after €3m worth of cocaine was found in the bins – something he claimed to have no knowledge of.

His boss Gareth Hopkins, who is already serving time for his involvement, described Shodiya as a “pawn” or “puppet” in the operation.

Despite that, a jury of nine men and women have today found him guilty.

It took them three hours to reach a unanimous verdict on all counts and Shodiya has been remanded in custody to be sentenced next month.