Man caught with €14k of drugs after he swerved garda checkpoint on e-bike, court told
The court heard Alex de Silva got off his e-bike and fled on foot to Thomas Street in Dublin 8, where he was apprehended.
A Brazilian man arrested in Dublin for possessing €14,000 worth of cannabis, cocaine, pills and LSD was promised 'easy money' selling drugs in Ireland, a court was told.
Alex de Silva, 31, of Temple Gardens, Santry, Dublin 9, was arrested in the city's south side on Friday and charged with possessing assorted drugs for sale or supply.
He was refused at Dublin District Court on Saturday by Judge Catherine Ghent after she noted garda bail objections based on 'serious flight risk' fears.
The contested bail hearing was told that gardai in the Dublin south-central division drug unit were conducting a checkpoint when the accused approached on an e-bike.
Garda Darragh Mylod alleged that when Mr de Silva saw them, he swerved to the other side of the street and was told he would be searched for drugs.
The court heard he got off his e-bike and fled on foot to Thomas Street in Dublin 8, where he was apprehended.
Searching him resulted in the seizure of various substances: cannabis valued at €11,126, cannabis resin at €186, ketamine at €1,140, cocaine at €980, MDMA at €600, and LSD worth €100.
The combined value was €14,120, and he had €550 cash.
Garda Mylod maintained that the cannabis was in small containers with distinctive stickers.
Gardai searched his home address and found extra matching stickers there.
The accused came to the country around the end of February on a six-month work visa.
Garda Mylod said that during his interview, the man said, 'he was told in Brazil that he could come to live in Ireland and make easy money selling drugs'.
The court heard he was sending money home to his pregnant wife, and he had told gardai that he was fed up in Ireland and intended to return to Brazil.
The officer expected a further, more serious charge could be brought and that the case would be sent to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers.
Addressing that point, defence counsel Kevin McCrave said the officer was referring to a charge under section 15a of the Misuse of Drugs Act for possessing drugs worth more than €13,000 which can mandate a minimum 10-year sentence.
Under cross-examination with Mr McCrave, the garda conceded that the drugs had to be analysed and the borderline value could turn out to be less than €13,000.
Counsel said the accused, who listened to the proceedings with the aid of an interpreter, intends to remain in Ireland.
Questioned further, Garda Mylod agreed that it was not a case that Mr de Silva was accused of committing a crime to feed a habit.
The defence said the accused had the presumption of innocence, had tried to get out of drug dealing but had been threatened, and the current stated value of the seizure was not an egregious sum for drug charges.
Mr McCrave pleaded for bail with strict conditions. However, Judge Ghent held that there was a probability that Mr de Silva would evade justice, and she denied his application.
Legal aid was granted and he was remanded in custody to appear again next week.
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