Man found with vacuum-packed cash and cannabis at his Cork house jailed for drug-dealing

Judge Helen Boyle said: 'He was actively involved in the sale or supply of drugs in the Cork area. And this was a relatively large amount of drugs.'

Judge Boyle imposed a sentence of six years on the accused and suspended the last two-and-a-half years of it at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. File picture

Vacuum-packed cash totalling over €33,000 was found hidden behind a washing machine and almost €160,000 worth of cannabis was uncovered in the attic of a rented house in Carrigaline and now the man responsible for this has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Detective Garda Robert Kennedy gave evidence in the case against 36-year-old Gytis Pyplys, and Judge Helen Boyle concluded: “He was actively involved in the sale or supply of drugs in the Cork area. And this was a relatively large amount of drugs.” 

Judge Boyle imposed a sentence of six years on the accused and suspended the last two-and-a-half years of it at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

He admitted having the eight kilos of cannabis for sale or supply at his home, and money-laundering in respect of €33,600.

The main drugs charges of having drugs for sale or supply where the street value exceeds €13,000, can carry a 10-year minimum sentence unless the judge finds that there are exceptional circumstances.

Det. Garda Kennedy said his colleague Detective Garda Dermot Crowley obtained a warrant to search the defendant’s address and found eight kilogrammes of cannabis. 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," Det. Garda Kennedy said.

“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 previously that the accused had a drug addiction and was holding the seized items for a third party. She said he started taking drugs in Ireland one year ago and became addicted and he wanted to get treatment for this.

The accused was residing at Dunlieve House, Carrigaline, at the time.