Thursday 29 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. 10355Possession of cannabis for sale or supply · Co. Dublin

Limerick man jailed five years over €597,000 cannabis left on Dublin Airport carousel

Lee Somers, a 31-year-old man from Limerick, arrived at Dublin Airport on a flight from Canada at 5am and left a suitcase on the baggage carousel containing cannabis worth just under €600,000. Customs officers stopped him after he returned to collect the luggage, and he was due to travel on to Scotland. He pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on March 2, 2024, and the case had earlier been adjourned because he had no legal representation. On March 24, 2026, Judge Martin Nolan, who accepted that Somers was under some duress, jailed him for five years.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced24 Mar
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Somers left a suitcase containing cannabis worth just under €600,000 on a baggage carousel.
Where
The cannabis was found at Dublin Airport, where Somers had arrived.
When
Somers arrived on a flight from Canada at 5am; the incident date is not given.
Weapon
No weapon is mentioned in the case.
Cause
Somers said he had been told by a third party to carry out the trip, and the article describes his action as a crisis of conscience.
Investigation
Customs officers stopped Somers after he returned to collect his luggage.
Other details
The articles say Somers was 31, from Limerick, and due to travel on to Scotland.
Charges
Somers pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply; the articles date the plea to March 2, 2024.
In court
  • Judge Martin Nolan had earlier adjourned the case because Somers had no legal representation.
  • Judge Nolan accepted that Somers was under some duress to transport the drugs.
Sentence
Judge Nolan jailed Somers for five years, reported on March 24, 2026.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatSomers left his luggage on a carousel containing cannabis worth just under €600,000. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe cannabis was found at Dublin Airport. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenSomers arrived on a flight from Canada at 5am. (limerickleader.ie)
  • causeSomers said he had been told to carry out the trip by a third party. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationSomers was stopped by customs officers after he returned to collect his luggage. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeSomers pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtJudge Martin Nolan had earlier adjourned the case because Somers had no legal representation. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe judge accepted that Somers was under some duress to transport the drugs. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Nolan jailed Somers for five years. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 24 Mar2026
    Sentencedlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Limerick man left suitcase containing just under €600,000 worth of drugs on airport baggage carousel

    Reports the sentence of five years imposed on Lee Somers, who pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply, and gives the court and mitigation details.

    convicted, Lee Somers, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Lee Somers