Gardaí in Cork seize cannabis worth €160,000 following search of home in Carrigaline

Gytis Pyplys charged with having eight kilos of cannabis for sale or supply at his home, and money-laundering in respect of €33,600

Gardaí in Cork found €33,600 in cash hidden behind a washing machine in the kitchen and cannabis wort €180,000.

Vacuum packed cash totalling over €33,000 was found hidden behind a washing machine and €160,000 worth of cannabis was uncovered in the attic and a bedroom of a rented house in Carrigaline on Sunday night.

This was the allegation made today by Detective Garda Dermot Crowley at Cork District Court following the arrest of Gytis Pyplys who was charged with having the eight kilos of cannabis for sale or supply at his home, and money-laundering in respect of €33,600.

There was an objection to bail, partly based on the seriousness of the case. Judge Joanne Carroll denied him bail and remanded him in custody until January 29 on the application of Inspector Brendan McKenna.

The 36-year-old defendant was arrested when driving on Ballinrea Road, Carrigaline, on January 26. The detective gave evidence that the accused gave them a driving licence in a false name and also provided an incorrect address.

Det Garda Crowley said: “We told him we had a warrant for his real address at Dunlieve House, Carrigaline. He didn’t acknowledge initially that this was his address. On arrival he acknowledged it was his home.

“We searched this address and found eight kilogrammes of cannabis with an approximate street value of €160,000.

“This was recovered from his bedroom and the attic directly accessed from his bedroom.

“We found €33,600 in cash which was vacuum packed and hidden behind a washing machine in the kitchen.

“Also in the house there was a vacuum packing machine and bags, and a diary containing information in relation to tick-lists and corresponding cash amounts. There was a separate section in the corner of the tick-list corresponding to the €33,600.

“He said he had placed cannabis in the attic and recovered one kilo and stored this in his bedroom. He said he hid the money behind the washing machine and acknowledged providing gardaí with a false name and address with the intention of disguising his activities.” 

Elaine Audley defence barrister said there was nothing sinister about the false driving licence and that the accused man acquired it when he had difficulties related to a licence. 

Det Garda Crowley said that on the defendant’s own evidence the name on the licence was one that Mr Pyplys “picked from space.” 

Ms Audley also said that it was the position of the accused that he had a drug addiction and was holding the seized items for a third party.

The defendant gave evidence in his application for bail saying that he started taking drugs in Ireland one year ago and became addicted. He said he wanted to get bail so that he could get treatment for this.

Refusing bail, Judge Carroll took into consideration the quantity of drugs and cash allegedly seized together with the paraphernalia described by Det. Garda Crowley.