Man found with cannabis wrapped in clingfilm hidden in his car and home is jailed

Total value of cannabis, between what was found in the car and in the house, amounted to €7,310, court told

Defendant has been jailed for two years and six months for drug-dealing. Picture: Getty

Cannabis wrapped in clingfilm was concealed in the steering column of a car, and the driver informed gardaí he had a much larger stash in a suitcase at a house in Grange.

Now at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, this motorist has been jailed for two years and six months for drug-dealing. 

His defence senior counsel, Mahon Corkery said the accused was doing well in prison trying to put his life on a better footing, doing courses in “relapse aversion, personal development, piano lessons and haircutting”.

Detective Garda Dylan Murphy charged 49-year-old Piotr Szczepanik, of Woodview, Pinecroft, Grange, Cork, with having cannabis for sale or supply at his home on June 11, 2025, and a similar offence at a vehicle on South Douglas Road, Cork, on the same date. The accused man pleaded guilty to the charges against him.

Detective Garda Murphy testified that on June 11, 2025, members of the Cork county divisional drugs unit stopped him while driving at South Douglas Road.

“I approached him and he was the only occupant in the car. He was visibly nervous and there was a strong smell of cannabis from the car. When informed that there would be a search under the Misuse of Drugs Act, he removed clingfilm-wrapped cannabis from his pants and handed it to me.

“He said more cannabis was concealed in the car. There were two more clingfilm-wrapped cannabis packets in the steering wheel. And during a search, a fourth was found.

“They had a total value of €348. He spoke in English and admitted supplying to a friend. He was conveyed to Togher Garda Station. En route, he disclosed he had more in a suitcase at a property in Woodview, Pinecroft, Grange.

“During a search of the bedroom at that house, a large quantity of cannabis in a suitcase was found. Fifteen individual packets of cannabis individually wrapped in clingfilm were found. There was cannabis with a total value of €6,972,” Det Garda Murphy said.

Also found in the wardrobe with the case were two industrial rolls of clingfilm, and his passport.

The total value of cannabis, between what was found in the car and in the house, amounted to €7,310.

When questioned, the man denied dealing, saying he gave cannabis to one friend and would have smoked the rest himself, but gardaí doubted this account.

In any event, Judge Helen Boyle said the quantity was too large to be explained in terms of personal consumption.

Piotr Szczepanik ultimately pleaded guilty to having it for sale or supply.

He was previously convicted and sentenced to two years in jail with the last nine months suspended — again on that occasion for having €7,000 worth of cannabis.

Mr Corkery said the accused cooperated with gardaí and gave them the key to the property where most of the cannabis was located.

Judge Boyle said cannabis was bad for anyone who comes into contact with it. She acknowledged from Mr Corkery’s submissions that the defendant was doing his best to better himself while in custody.

She imposed a sentence of three years and six months, with the last year suspended.