Suspicions about Fedex parcel leads to conviction of Cork man for drugs offences

Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard that the accused decided to accept the collection of the parcel with the cannabis in it when he was 'struggling financially and in poor mental health'

Gardaísaid the Fedex parcel contained four kilos of cannabis with an €80,000 street value. File picture: Dan Linehan

A Fedex parcel raised suspicions at a sorting depot in Dublin and it was found to contain four kilos of cannabis with an €80,000 street value, Cork Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

The man who signed for the package after a controlled delivery to his home in Cork will be sentenced on November 24. The case was adjourned on Wednesday when it was mentioned in the call-over of cases before Judge Helen Boyle.

The background to the crime was previously outlined. Gardaí seized €80,000 worth of cannabis at the Mardyke in Cork almost two years ago. Since then the accused man confessed to all drugs charges against him.

Detective Garda Ruairí McGovern testified that herbal cannabis worth an estimated €80,000 was the subject of a joint operation by Revenue Customs Service, Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) and the Cork Divisional Drugs Unit.

The package was discovered in Dublin at a Fedex depot and the authorities were notified. It was arranged to make a controlled delivery of the package to the addressee, 36-year-old Jonathan Cooke at Maryville, Mardyke Walk, Cork, on December 2, 2024.

As soon as the package was delivered and signed for by Mr Cooke, a search warrant was executed to search the house at Maryville. When officers entered the premises the package was seen on the floor of the living room and Mr Cooke was present.

Det. Garda McGovern said: “I arrested him. He admitted possession and control of the cannabis. He said he was being paid €500 by an unidentified third party to hold it until he was contacted. He was in financial difficulty.

“He was an occasional cannabis user but not addicted to drugs. He admitted signing for it when it was delivered in the controlled delivery that morning.

“His phone was analysed but there was nothing of evidential value on the phone. He has no previous convictions.” 

Defence senior counsel Jane Hyland said: “He had an allergic reaction to penicillin which caused him significant mental health difficulties. This was a very poor decision made when he was in that position.

“He made the decision when he was also struggling financially and in poor mental health. 

He has been under significant stress as a result. He completely descended to a place where he was effectively beyond the reach of his family.

“While he agreed to take this €500 to store it he knows drugs are ruinous to society. He is hugely disappointed with himself and remorseful and aware of the impact on his own family.” 

Judge Dermot Sheehan said: “This has an unusual, relatively unique background to how a 36-year-old man finds himself in such a dangerous situation.” 

The most serious charge is one of possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying it to another, when the street value exceeded €13,000, a charge that carries a minimum sentence of 10 years unless there are exceptional circumstances.