Ireland Case No. 7216Possession of cannabis for sale or supply · Co. Dublin
Chef jailed for two years over cannabis found in suitcase at Dublin Airport
James Fuery (32), a chef of Tallaght, Dublin, was stopped by customs officers at Dublin Airport with cannabis worth €404,520 in a suitcase he had brought from Ibiza. He pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 25 September 2024. Judge Elma Sheahan departed from the 10-year mandatory minimum, citing his early plea and circumstances, and set a headline sentence of four and a half years with the final 12 months suspended. The latest development, reported on 7 July 2025, is that he was jailed for two years.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced7 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- James Fuery (32) is a chef who pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply.
- Cannabis valued at €404,520, weighing slightly less than 22.5kg, was found in 45 vacuum-sealed packets in a suitcase.
- Where
- He arrived at Dublin Airport on a flight from Ibiza.
- When
- He pleaded guilty on 25 September 2024.
- Investigation
- Customs officers stopped him after a drugs detection dog showed interest in the suitcase he was carrying.
- He was co-operative and identified the suitcase as the one he had brought to the airport.
- Cause
- He had a drug debt of €15,000 and was told he had to have the money in 24 hours or go and get the suitcase.
- In court
- Judge Elma Sheahan noted the 10-year mandatory minimum but said the court could depart from it given the early plea and circumstances.
- The investigating garda agreed he was co-operative, entered an early guilty plea and has no previous convictions for drug offences.
- Sentence
- He received a headline sentence of four and a half years, with a three-year term and the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions including drug treatment.
- On 7 July 2025 it was reported that he had been jailed for two years.
- Other details
- He has eight previous District Court convictions for road traffic, theft and public order offences.
- He told gardaí this was the first time he had brought drugs into the country and described difficulties with cocaine and cannabis and a relapse into addiction.
- He had no proprietary interest in the drugs and no trappings of wealth, and had previously experienced homelessness due to addiction and undergone rehabilitation.
16 statements extracted from the articles
- whatJames Fuery is a chef (irishtimes.com)
- whatCannabis valued at €404,520 weighing slightly less than 22.5kg was found in 45 vacuum-sealed packets in the suitcase (irishtimes.com)
- whereHe arrived at Dublin Airport on a flight from Ibiza (irishtimes.com)
- investigationCustoms officers stopped him after a drugs detection dog showed interest in his suitcase (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 25 September 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Elma Sheahan noted the 10-year mandatory minimum sentence but said the court could depart from it given the early plea and circumstances (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe was given a headline sentence of four and a half years, with a three-year term and the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions including drug treatment (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe has eight previous District Court convictions for road traffic, theft and public order offences (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe was co-operative and identified the suitcase as the one he had brought to the airport (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe told gardaí this was the first time he had brought drugs into the country (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe outlined difficulties with cocaine and cannabis and how he had relapsed into addiction (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe had built up a drug debt of €15,000 (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe investigating garda agreed he was co-operative, entered an early guilty plea and has no previous convictions for drug offences (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe was told he had to have the money in 24 hours or go and get the suitcase (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe had no proprietary interest in the drugs and had no trappings of wealth (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe had previously experienced homelessness due to addiction issues and underwent rehabilitation (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 7 Jul2025Chef who brought cannabis worth €400,000 in suitcase from Ibiza to Dublin jailed for two years
Sentencing details: Judge Elma Sheahan departed from the 10-year mandatory minimum due to early guilty plea and circumstances; Fuery had no previous drug convictions, was co-operative, and had a €15,000 drug debt when asked to carry the suitcase.
convicted, James Fuery, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Fuery