Man admits having cannabis worth €160k and operating a grow-house at his Cork home

Accused also pleaded guilty to two counts of money-laundering

Picture: Larry Cummins

A signed plea of guilty on 10 charges was entered by a 43-year-old man facing charges arising out of the seizure of €160,000 worth of drugs at a hotel car park in Little Island and the discovery of a cannabis grow-house at a house in Riverstown, on December 19, 2023.

Mindaugas Stancikas, of The Mews, Riverstown House, Glanmire, Co Cork, signed the pleas of guilty at Cork District Court. Judge Mary Dorgan sent the case forward for sentencing at the sessions of Cork Circuit Criminal Court commencing on October 29.

Detective Garda Rúairí McGovern brought the charges against Mindaugas Stancikas.

The most serious is one count of having drugs for sale or supply at a time when its street value exceeded €13,000 — a charge with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years unless there are exceptional circumstances. He also admitted two counts of money-laundering.

It was previously alleged gardaí observed a transaction taking place in the car park of the Radisson Hotel in Little Island between the occupants of two vehicles and when officers moved in to carry out a search they found €160,000 worth of cannabis and €39,500 in cash.

He also admitted a series of counts related to a search at his home on the same date. He was charged with possession of cannabis herb and resin and having both drugs for the purpose of sale or supply, cultivation of cannabis and money-laundering in respect of €2,800 cash.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, described the accused as a Lithuaninan national resident in Ireland for the past 20 years.