Man jailed for his role in trafficking over €700k worth of cannabis
Sonya McLean
A man has been jailed for ten years for his role in the trafficking of over €700,000 worth of cannabis.
Tomasz Zdechlikiewicz (38) of Main Street, Clongriffin, was convicted, following a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal, to having the drugs – 36 kilogrammes of cannabis, for sale or supply and possession of €13,000, the proceeds of crime, on February 25th 2021.
The father of two has a previous conviction for a road traffic offence. He had denied the charges.
Eoghan Cole SC prosecuting, told the court that gardaí had information that led to a surveillance operation being put in place in relation to the movements of Zdechlikiewicz in February 2021.
On February 24th, he was observed arriving at Dublin Airport and was kept under observation for a number of hours. During that time, Zdechlikiewicz rented two vehicles and purchased tools.
The following day, these two vehicles were seen driving in convoy before the drivers met with a lorry at Greenogue Business Park, in Rathcoole, Dublin.
The court heard that one of the accused was seen removing wheels from the lorry that were then placed in the back of one of the rented vehicles.
Zdechlikiewicz was driving the second rented vehicle. He was not responsible for removing the tyres nor were the tyres placed in his vehicle.
Gardaí moved in and arrested the driver of the lorry, the driver of the other rented vehicle and Zdechlikiewicz. Gardaí are satisfied that Zdechlikiewicz was operating at a mid-level in the organisation.
His two co-accused were considered less culpable and took more risks in terms of handling the consignment of drugs, while Zdechlikiewicz played a more supervisory role and stayed in his own vehicle during the handover.
Subsequent analysis of Zdechlikiewicz’s phone revealed “highly incriminating data” in the weeks prior to his arrest. There was communication in relation to making plans relating to drug trafficking and trading in drugs generally, Mr Cole told the court.
The business park where the three men ultimately met up was mentioned, and there was also communication with other people in the UK and Spain, which seemed to relate to coordinating the handover of the drugs.
Cole said the tools were intended to be used to remove the tyres from the wheels of the lorry where the consignment of drugs was concealed.
The drugs were analysed and found to be 36 kilogrammes of cannabis with an estimated street value of €720,000. A large sum of cash was also discovered.
Analysis of the dash cam in the lorry revealed the discussion of cash, and gardaí are satisfied that €13,000 was involved in the trafficking of these drugs and attributed to Zdechlikiewicz.
The two other men involved had previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced to five and six years for their roles in the offence.
Zdechlikiewicz was interviewed several times but did not accept responsibility and denied any involvement in handling the drugs.
Michael Lynn SC defending handed in a large number of testimonials on his client's behalf, including from his partner of 18 years and his 15-year-old son.
He was described as a supportive, dependable and hard-working father. Zdechlikiewicz came to Ireland in 2010 from his native Poland.
Judge Martin Nolan said the gardaí had “certain suspicions” and watched the situation closely as it developed before the transfer of the drugs ultimately took place.
He said it was a sophisticated operation and that Zdechlikiewicz’s role was in the form of a supervisor to the other two men who handled the drugs.
Judge Nolan said it is not clear what reward Zdechlikiewicz was to get for his involvement, but there is no doubt that he was to get “some form of reward”.
He said a headline sentence of 13 years was warranted before he imposed a term of 10 years for the drug offence and a concurrent term of four years for the money laundering charge.
