Wednesday 28 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. 3712Possession of controlled drugs (for sale/supply), dangerous driving, endangerment · Co. Dublin · 29 May 2023

Dziugas Odinas, 25, remanded over €60,900 drug possession and dangerous driving after hour-long pursuit

Dziugas Odinas, 25, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession for sale or supply of MDMA, Ecstasy and Alprazolam tablets worth approximately €60,900, and to dangerous driving and endangerment following a high-speed pursuit involving 12 garda cars and a helicopter across north Dublin and into County Meath on 29 May 2023. Judge Sarah Berkeley remanded him in custody and adjourned the case to 11 May 2026 for finalisation.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court27 Feb
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
36 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwelve Garda cars and an air support helicopter were involved in a high-speed pursuit lasting more than an hour across north Dublin and into Co Meath. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatOdinas was driving on the wrong side of the road at high speed on Oscar Traynor Road, Coolock, towards gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA Garda inspector had to drive onto the grass verge to avoid being struck by the oncoming car. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDuring the pursuit, Odinas drove the wrong way on the M50, down slip roads, across red bollards, and around Dublin Airport roundabout. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe pursuit ended outside Gormanstown, Co Meath, when gardaí deployed a stinger that punctured all four tyres and patrol cars boxed the vehicle in. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatOdinas was not insured and the car was not taxed. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA small amount of cannabis for personal use was found on Odinas and a large knife was found in the car. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThree months later, plain clothes gardaí stopped Odinas on Ballymun Road and found 34 bags of MDMA and four bags of ecstasy tablets. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe total estimated street value of the drugs found on Odinas was about €60,900. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatOdinas told gardaí he was being paid €300 for transporting the drugs. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatTwelve garda cars and the garda air support helicopter were involved in a high-speed pursuit lasting over an hour. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA garda inspector had to drive his patrol car onto the grass verge to avoid being struck by Odinas's oncoming car. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDuring the pursuit, Odinas drove the wrong way on the M50 motorway, the wrong way down slip roads, and across red bollards. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatOdinas drove in the wrong direction around Dublin airport roundabout between heavy traffic. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatOdinas's driving forced other drivers to take evasive action to narrowly avoid colliding with his car on a number of occasions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatOdinas did a U-turn on the N1 motorway and switched his car lights off on a number of occasions to try to evade detection. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAll four tyres on Odinas's car were punctured and patrol cars were used to box the car in. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe car was not insured and not taxed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThree months after the pursuit, plain clothes gardaí stopped Odinas on Ballymun Road, north Dublin, and found 34 bags of MDMA and four bags of Ecstasy tablets on him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe Ecstasy tablets had Donald Trump's face stamped on them. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe total estimated street value of the drugs found on Odinas was approximately €60,900. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe pursuit started on Oscar Traynor Road, Coolock, and went across north Dublin and into County Meath. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe pursuit ended outside Gormanstown, County Meath, when gardaí threw a stinger across the road. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe pursuit began at around 12.30am on May 29, 2023, when Odinas was driving a Volkswagen Passat with two passengers. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe pursuit began at around 12.30am on the night of 29 May 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThere was no garda intelligence to suggest Odinas was doing anything other than moving the drugs, and he was not on the garda radar or part of a hierarchy. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeOdinas pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of MDMA, ecstasy tablets and alprazolam tablets on Ballymun Road on August 3, 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and endangerment at locations in north Dublin on May 29, 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeOdinas pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of MDMA, Ecstasy tablets and Alprazolam tablets on Ballymun Road on 3 August 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeOdinas pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and endangerment at various locations in north Dublin on 29 May 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Sarah Berkeley adjourned the case to May 11 for finalisation and remanded Odinas into custody. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHis previous convictions include road traffic offences and fuel drive-off type thefts. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherOdinas lives at Sheepmoor Lawns, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDefence counsel stated Odinas was 22 at the time of the offences. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherOdinas's previous convictions include road traffic offences and convictions for fuel drive off type thefts. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherOdinas was 22 at the time of the offences. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Feb2026
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Man led 12 garda cars and helicopter chase, caught with Trump stamped Ecstasy

    Court hearing at which Odinas pleaded guilty to drug possession and dangerous driving charges; details of the hour-long pursuit and the drug seizure featuring Trump-stamped Ecstasy tablets; remanded in custody pending sentencing in May 2026.

    accused, Dziugas Odinas, 25, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Dziugas Odinas
  2. 27 Feb2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Twelve Garda cars and a helicopter involved in high-speed pursuit of driver, court told

    Court hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where Odinas pleaded guilty to drug possession and dangerous driving; case adjourned for finalisation/sentencing.

    accused, Dziugas Odinas, 25, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Dziugas Odinas