Truck driver caught with €1.1m of cannabis told gardaí he would ‘smoke it all tomorrow'
Gardai said Andrew Cooley (32) was caught 'red-handed' with the drugs haul when his truck was searched on arriving in Dublin Port on a ferry from the UK on Saturday
A truck driver accused of having €1.1 million worth of cannabis in his cab told gardaí after he was arrested that it was his and he was going to 'smoke it all tomorrow,' a court heard.
Gardai said Andrew Cooley (32) was caught 'red-handed' with the drugs haul when his truck was searched on arriving in Dublin Port on a ferry from the UK on Saturday.
Judge Michele Finan deferred a decision on bail at Dublin District Court after gardai said they considered Mr Cooley a flight risk and objected to his release.
She remanded the accused in custody to later this week.
Mr Cooley, a father-of-two with an address at Ballyoran, Dundalk, Co Louth, is charged with possession of cannabis with intent to sell or supply on June 7.
Objecting to bail, Garda Dylan Mallon said the accused was driving a white Scania truck when it came off the ship from Holyhead at 1.45am.
A customs officer stopped the truck, asked Mr Cooley to step out and searched the cabin.
On a bunk, the officer saw a large number of black bags with clothes covering them.
There were a total of 31 packages and when the officer cut into the bag, he observed what he believed to be cannabis. Gardai were called and the accused was arrested and taken to Store Street station.
Gda Mallon said Mr Cooley made admissions in interview and when asked if he accepted ownership of the cannabis, he said 'yeah, it's all mine, I'll smoke it all tomorrow.'
The total estimated value of the 55.4kg of cannabis seized was €1.108m.
Gda Mallon said it was alleged the accused was caught red-handed with the cannabis in the cabin of a truck that he had been driving. The accused was a professional HGV driver who had taken multiple trips to continental Europe and had been living in the cab, he said.
The CCJ in Dublin.
News in 90 Seconds - 09 June 2025
Mr Cooley could 'easily' abscond and leave the jurisdiction if granted bail, and had a 'transferable skill set" that made him employable.
Defence solicitor Luke Staines said the accused had 'very strong ties to this jurisdiction', having been in Ireland his whole life and with two children here. He said he had never worked in mainland Europe and his truck's records would show he only travelled between Ireland and England. There was nothing to suggest he would leave the jurisdiction, Mr Staines said.
If refused bail he could be in custody for two years awaiting trial, Mr Staines said. Strict bail conditions could be imposed, including a requirement to sign on twice daily at a garda station and providing an address and contact number.
Judge Finan said she was 'not satisfied to grant him bail today' as she did not have enough information about where he proposed to live. She reserved bail and remanded the accused in custody to appear in Cloverhill District Court on Friday.
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