Friday 30 October 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. 17455Possession of cocaine for sale or supply · Co. Donegal · 26 Aug 2022

Drug courier sentenced over €70,000 cocaine seizure near Letterkenny

Amin Rhamahi, a 48-year-old Algerian national, was caught with cocaine worth €70,308 in the boot of a car stopped at Listillion, outside Letterkenny, County Donegal, on 26 August 2022. He was arrested that day and later pleaded guilty to having drugs for sale or supply. He appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court, where in April 2024 he was sentenced to three years with the balance suspended to account for time already spent in custody. He had been held in Castlerea Prison since his arrest, and the latest development is that he was freed after serving 20 months.

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

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Amin Rhamahi was caught with more than €70,000 of cocaine in the boot of a car.
Where
The car was stopped at Listillion, outside Letterkenny, County Donegal.
When
The arrest took place on 26 August 2022.
Other details
  • Rhamahi is a 48-year-old Algerian national, as stated in the court report.
  • Gardaí also seized £1,440 Stg, which the accused said was his life savings.
  • The judge placed the case at the upper end of the scale for such cases and said the accused was obviously a courier.
Investigation
  • Gardaí had been tipped off about the car's occupants acting suspiciously between Donegal Town and Ballybofey.
  • Gardaí searched the boot and found what appeared to be drugs in a dog feed bag under clothing.
  • Forensic testing identified 1,000 grammes of cocaine valued at €70,308.
Charges
Rhamahi pleaded guilty to having drugs for sale or supply.
In court
He appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court.
Sentence
  • In April 2024 he was sentenced to three years, with the balance suspended to account for time already spent in custody.
  • He had been held in Castlerea Prison since his arrest and was freed after serving 20 months in custody.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA drugs courier was caught with more than €70,000 of cocaine in the boot of a car. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe car was stopped at Listillion outside Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe arrest happened on August 26, 2022. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí had been tipped off about the car's occupants acting suspiciously between Donegal Town and Ballybofey. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí searched the boot and found what appeared to be drugs in a dog feed bag under clothing. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationForensic testing identified 1,000 grammes of cocaine valued at €70,308. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to having drugs for sale or supply. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtHe appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceHe was sentenced to three years, with the balance suspended to account for time already spent in custody. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceHe had served 20 months in custody before his release. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherGardaí also seized £1,440 Stg, which the accused said was his life savings. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe judge placed the incident at the upper end of the scale for such cases, saying the accused was obviously a courier. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 26 Apr2024
    Sentenceddonegallive.ie, first report
    Drug courier nabbbed with €70,000 cocaine stash in Letterkenny freed from prison

    Court report on the sentencing of Amin Rhamahi, who was caught with cocaine worth €70,308 in August 2022 and was sentenced at Letterkenny Circuit Court in April 2024.

    convicted, Amin Rhamahi, 48, male, Algerian, named, non-irishAmin Rhamahi