Ireland Dublin woman sentenced over drugs hidden in car with false wall
On 17 April 2023, gardaí stopped and searched a car driven by Sarah Cala, a Dublin woman, after she was seen driving erratically, and found a false wall in the boot containing drugs worth €76,934. A follow-up search of her home and shed found drugs worth €151,000 and 12 kilograms of benzocaine. Cala pleaded guilty to possession of benzocaine for use in drugs offences and to possession for sale or supply of heroin, cocaine and cannabis, an offence carrying a presumptive 10-year minimum sentence. On 1 June 2026, Judge Martina Baxter departed from that minimum, citing Cala's guilty plea and cooperation, and imposed a six-year sentence suspended in full for six years with probation supervision, a drugs ban and counselling.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced1 Jun
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Sarah Cala pleaded guilty to possession of benzocaine intended for use in relation to drugs offences.
- Cala also pleaded guilty to possession within the State of heroin, cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply.
- Where
- The offences were committed at Cala's home.
- When
- The offences took place on 17 April 2023.
- Cause
- Gardaí stopped and searched Cala's car after she was seen driving erratically.
- Investigation
- A false wall was found in the boot of the car, and drugs worth €76,934 were recovered.
- A follow-up search of Cala's home and shed found drugs worth €151,000 and 12 kilograms of benzocaine, and the articles give a total of more than €220,000 in drugs.
- Charges
- The offence carries a presumptive minimum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment that a judge can depart from in exceptional circumstances.
- In court
- Judge Martina Baxter called the offence heinous and described Cala's role as mid-level, assisting more serious offenders.
- Judge Baxter said it would be unjust not to depart from the presumptive minimum sentence, given Cala's guilty plea and cooperation.
- Sentence
- The judge set a headline sentence of six and a half years.
- Cala was given a six-year sentence, suspended in its entirety for six years.
- The suspended sentence includes 18 months probation supervision, a ban on illicit drugs, and psychotherapy and counselling.
- Other details
- Cala has two previous convictions.
15 statements extracted from the articles
- whatSarah Cala pleaded guilty to possession of benzocaine intended for use in relation to drugs offences. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe offences were committed at Cala's home. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe offences took place on 17 April 2023. (thejournal.ie)
- causeGardaí stopped and searched Cala's car after she was seen driving erratically. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationA false wall was found in the boot of the car, and drugs worth €76,934 were recovered. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationA follow-up search of Cala's home and shed found drugs worth €151,000 and 12 kilograms of benzocaine. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeCala also pleaded guilty to possession within the State of heroin, cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe offence carries a presumptive minimum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment that a judge can depart from in exceptional circumstances. (thejournal.ie)
- courtJudge Martina Baxter called the offence a heinous offence when passing sentence. (thejournal.ie)
- courtJudge Baxter said it would be unjust not to depart from the presumptive minimum sentence, given Cala's guilty plea and cooperation. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge described Cala's role as mid-level, assisting more serious offenders. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of six and a half years. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceCala was given a six-year sentence, suspended in its entirety for six years. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe suspended sentence includes 18 months probation supervision, a ban on illicit drugs, and psychotherapy and counselling. (thejournal.ie)
- otherCala has two previous convictions. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Jun2026Dublin woman caught with more than €220k worth of drugs hidden in her car avoids jail
Reports the sentencing outcome: a six-year sentence suspended in full for six years, with conditions including 18 months probation supervision. It also gives the value of the drugs and the judge's reasoning.
convicted, Sarah Cala, 47, female, named, irish (judged from name)Sarah Cala