Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 22667Drugs offence (possession of cocaine) · Co. Dublin · 17 Apr 2022

Brazilian woman sentenced to two years for swallowing kilo of cocaine at Dublin Airport

Silmara Onofre, 27, a Brazilian woman, was sentenced to two years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing €66,297 worth of cocaine after swallowing 78 pellets weighing 0.949kg on a flight from Portugal to Dublin Airport on 17 April 2022.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced26 Jan
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatOnofre swallowed almost a kilo of cocaine before being stopped at customs. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe was on a flight from Portugal. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe swallowed 78 pellets of cocaine. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe passed over 70 pellets of cocaine weighing 0.949kg at Beaumont Hospital. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereShe was stopped by customs officers at Dublin Airport, Terminal One. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereShe was taken to Beaumont Hospital after her arrest. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 17 April 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeShe pleaded guilty to possessing €66,297 worth of cocaine. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceShe was sentenced to two years in prison. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to 17 April 2022, the date she went into custody. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherShe came from a place of poverty in Brazil and was the sole breadwinner for her mother and two-year-old daughter. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherShe has no previous convictions in any jurisdiction. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherShe is a beautician with limited work in that capacity in Brazil. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherOfficers became suspicious due to her demeanour and her answers about her route and payment for travel. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherShe came forward on signed pleas from the District Court and cooperated fully with gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherShe has been doing well in prison, working in reception, sewing and learning English. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherShe has difficulties making contact with her young daughter due to marriage breakdown. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherShe regrets the offence. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 26 Jan2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Two-year sentence for smuggler who swallowed kilo of cocaine

    Sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two-year sentence backdated to the date of arrest, describing Onofre as a 'drugs mule' at the 'bottom rung of the ladder'.

    convicted, Silmara Onofre, 27, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Silmara Onofre