Ireland Case No. 0513Possession of controlled drugs · Co. Dublin · 7 Jun 2025
Lorry driver jailed for importing cannabis at Dublin Port
Andrew Cooley, 32, from Ballyoran, Dundalk, Co Louth, was arrested at Dublin Port at 1.45am on 7 June 2025 after 55.4kg of cannabis was found hidden in the sleeping compartment of his truck, which had arrived from Holyhead. He was charged with unlawful possession of the cannabis for the purpose of sale or supply. Cooley pleaded guilty to importing more than 50kg of cannabis at Dublin Port. In July 2026, Judge Elma Sheahan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to seven years with the final 24 months suspended on strict conditions.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged9 Jun
2 reports - In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced27 Jul
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- 55.4kg of cannabis in 31 vacuum-sealed packages was found hidden in the sleeping compartment of a truck at Dublin Port.
- The cannabis had a street value of €1,007,000, reported as €1,108,000 in some sources.
- Cooley was driving an articulated lorry and refrigerated trailer and told the inspector he was carrying Amazon goods.
- Where
- The truck had arrived on a boat from Holyhead, UK, at Dublin Port.
- When
- The cannabis was discovered and Cooley was arrested at 1.45am on 7 June 2025.
- Investigation
- A customs officer smelled cannabis from the truck during a risk-profiling stop, and a search of the cab found black bags covered by clothes.
- Charges
- Cooley was charged with unlawful possession of 55.4kg of cannabis for the purpose of sale or supply.
- In court
- Cooley pleaded guilty to importing more than 50kg of cannabis at Dublin Port on 7 June 2025 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
- Sentence
- Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a seven-year sentence with the final 24 months suspended on strict conditions.
- Other details
- Cooley said he transported the drugs due to a threat from drug dealers to whom he previously owed a debt, which had been repaid a decade earlier.
- Cooley had eight previous convictions, mainly for road traffic matters, and had been known to gardaí as a drug user.
44 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe suspect is Andrew Cooley, 32, from Ballyoran, Dundalk, Co Louth (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe was driving a truck that had arrived on a boat from Holyhead (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe is the father of two (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe cannabis had an estimated value of €1,108,000 (irishtimes.com)
- whatA customs officer smelled cannabis coming from the truck (irishtimes.com)
- whatA search of the cab found black bags covered by clothes (irishtimes.com)
- whatThere were 31 black packages allegedly containing cannabis (irishtimes.com)
- whatRevenue seized 55kgs of herbal cannabis (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe cannabis had an estimated value of €1.1 million (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe drugs were hidden in vacuum-sealed packages within the sleeping compartment of the truck (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOne man in his 30s was arrested by An Garda Síochána (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA lorry driver was jailed for five years for importing cannabis through Dublin Port. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatThirty-one packages of cannabis were found under clothing in the lorry. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe cannabis had a street value of €1,007,000. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCooley was driving an articulated lorry and refrigerated trailer. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCooley told the inspector he was carrying Amazon goods. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe port inspector smelled cannabis. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe cannabis was found in a truck that had arrived from the UK at Dublin Port (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe cannabis was imported through Dublin Port. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenHe was arrested at Dublin Port at 1.45am on Saturday (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe importation was on 7 June 2025. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- causeCooley said he transported the drugs because of a threat from drug dealers he had previously owed a debt to. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationGardaí took him to Store Street station and interviewed him several times (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe seizure was made as a result of risk profiling (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe articulated lorry was stopped at the port and Cooley said he had nothing to declare. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationA Garda information form was served on Cooley's family members. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was charged with unlawful possession of 55.4kg of cannabis for the purpose of sale or supply (irishtimes.com)
- chargeCooley pleaded guilty to importing more than 50kg of cannabis at Dublin Port on 7 June 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe appeared at Dublin District Court on Monday for a bail hearing (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe garda feared he would evade justice because he had travelled to Europe multiple times as a driver and his work was transferable (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe defence stressed he has ties to Ireland and children there (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe defence said he could face two years on remand until his trial (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Michele Finan reserved her decision on bail until Friday and granted legal aid (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe man has appeared before the courts (irishmirror.ie)
- courtCooley pleaded guilty to importing more than 50 kilos of cannabis. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceJudge Elma Sheahan imposed a seven-year sentence with the final 24 months suspended. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceJudge Elma Sheahan imposed a seven-year sentence with the final 24 months suspended on strict conditions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe drugs had a street value of €1,007,000. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherCooley had eight previous convictions, mainly for road traffic matters. (dundalkdemocrat.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherCooley had been clean of drugs since 2016. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherCooley had been disqualified from driving twice. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCooley had previously been known to gardaí as a drug user. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCooley's parents settled the debt and he had been clean of drugs since 2016. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCooley received compassionate bail in February when his mother died. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 27 Jul2026Lorry driver who imported more than €1m of cannabis through Dublin Port is jailed
Sentencing details, background on prior debt and petrol-bombing of parents' home, GIM served on family, and compassionate bail following mother's death.
convicted, Andrew Cooley, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Andrew Cooley - 27 Jul2026Louth lorry driver who imported €500k of drugs jailed for five years
Reports the sentencing of Andrew Cooley, including the plea, the sentence, the value of the drugs, his reason for carrying them and his previous convictions.
convicted, Andrew Cooley, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Andrew Cooley - 11 Jun2025Man arrested after over €1m worth of cannabis found in truck at Dublin Port
Reports the arrest and court appearance following the Revenue seizure of cannabis at Dublin Port.
suspect, 30s, male - 9 Jun2025Trucker arrested after €1m cannabis find told gardaí: ‘I’ll smoke it tomorrow’, court hears
Names the suspect as Andrew Cooley, 32, from Ballyoran, Dundalk, Co Louth, and provides details of the bail hearing at Dublin District Court, including the alleged quote 'I'll smoke it tomorrow', the 31 black packages found in the cab, and the prosecution's flight risk argument.
suspect, Andrew Cooley, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Andrew Cooley