A drugs courier who was treated "like a piece of baggage" by a criminal organisation has been jailed for four years by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Mark Reidy (22), of Keeper Road, Drimnagh, was in debt to the southcity drugs group before gardai caught him with £1,000 of cannabis belonging to the criminal organisation.
Det Garda Colm Fox said the dealers added this to the money he already owed and pressed Reidy into going with them to London to import heroin.
Reidy admitted importing 48.85 grams of heroin worth up to £40,000 at Dublin Airport on June 12th, 1995. He also admitted having cannabis worth £957 at Brickfield Park on June 9th, and cannabis worth £30 on June 6th, 1995.
Mr Patrick Marrinan, defending, said the case highlighted what went on in the criminal underworld.
Garda Brian Whelan told Mr Paul McDermott, prosecuting, Customs officers at Dublin Airport found 97.7 grams of powder in Reidy's underpants.
Jailing Reidy, Judge Cyril Kelly said he would review the sentence on November 16th, 1998.