Case No. 0908Unlawful importation of cocaine · Co. Dublin · 22 Sep 2024
Lorry driver Noel Smullen jailed for importing €2.8m cocaine hidden under Lego at Dublin Port
On 22 September 2024, customs officers at Dublin Port X-rayed an articulated truck driven by Irish lorry driver Noel Smullen, 58, after a hand-held scan raised suspicions, and found 40kg of cocaine worth €2.8 million concealed in a metal compartment in the floor of the flat bed trailer under a legitimate cargo of Lego toys. Smullen, of Clara, Co Offaly, and co-accused man Killian McNay, 40, of Mullingar, Co Westmeath, were both involved in packing the drugs, with McNay providing the adapted vehicle. Smullen, who had nine previous convictions and was under severe financial stress, admitted unlawful importation of cocaine and was sentenced by Judge Martina Baxter at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six-and-a-half years with the final 18 months suspended for two years, backdated to 22 September 2024. McNay had been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years earlier in October 2025.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged30 Oct
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced30 Oct
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- 40kg of cocaine worth €2.8 million was concealed in a metal compartment in the floor of a flat bed trailer under a legitimate cargo of Lego toys.
- Killian McNay provided the adapted vehicle to Smullen and both men were involved in packing the drugs.
- Smullen was contacted by the co-accused on Facebook after a number of years out of contact and offered well-paid work; he was promised €20,000 but never received any reward.
- Where
- The importation took place at Dublin Port.
- When
- The importation occurred on 22 September 2024.
- Investigation
- Customs officers became suspicious of the articulated truck driven by Smullen and, after it passed a hand-held scan, conducted an X-ray that revealed the drugs.
- The case followed an investigation by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
- Charges
- Smullen admitted unlawful importation of cocaine with a market value over €13,000.
- In court
- The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martina Baxter.
- Sentence
- Smullen was sentenced to six-and-a-half years with the last 18 months suspended for two years, backdated to 22 September 2024.
- McNay was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years earlier in October 2025.
- Other details
- Smullen has nine previous convictions including burglary, handling stolen property, possession of stolen property, and assault.
- Smullen was under severe financial stress and receiving letters from the bank threatening repossession of his home.
48 statements extracted from the articles
- whatShe used altered documents to take out a €10,000 loan from KBC Bank in 2018. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe later unsuccessfully attempted to obtain a second €5,000 loan. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe contacted gardaí pretending to be a sister and told them she had died. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe submitted a false death notification form to Wexford County Council in January 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDeath certificates were issued using English and Irish spellings of her name. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí discovered three death notices on RIP.ie, one stating she died in France and a second added by a fictitious undertaker she created. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe told gardaí she knew she was in trouble, could not face coming to court, and did not want to leave her young child. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe stole over €55,000 from an employer in 2015, of which €6,500 was repaid. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe stole over €3,000 worth of mobile phones from Three Ireland in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe court heard McAuley acted alone and there is no evidence she had been living a lavish lifestyle. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe has a young child with health issues, medical and mental health difficulties including schizo-affective disorder, and is pregnant with her second child. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe has four previous convictions for theft and deception offences, including a two-year sentence suspended for 10 years in November 2015 for theft of just under €111,000 from a former employer. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe majority of the money stolen has not been repaid. (irishtimes.com)
- whatBarry Fowler was charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation from April 2022 to June 12, 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- whatBarry Fowler was charged with conspiracy to commit an aggravated burglary from December 24 to December 28, 2022 (irishtimes.com)
- whatBarry Fowler was charged with unlawfully possessing a mobile phone in Mountjoy Prison on June 12, 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- whatKillian McCabe was charged with participating in and enhancing a criminal organisation from December 14, 2022 to February 4, 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- whatRebecca Byrne was charged with participating in a criminal organisation from November 16 to December 14, 2022 (irishtimes.com)
- whatEamon Doyle was charged with the same offence between November 16, 2022 and February 5, 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- whatPaul Dargan was charged with conspiracy to commit an aggravated burglary from December 24 to December 28, 2022 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe cocaine was worth €2.8 million (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe cocaine was hidden under a legitimate cargo of Lego toys (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe cocaine weighed 40kg in wrapped blocks (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe drugs were concealed in a metal compartment in the floor of the flat bed trailer (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcNay provided the adapted vehicle to Smullen (irishtimes.com)
- whatBoth men were involved in packing the drugs (irishtimes.com)
- whereShe had addresses in Connagh, Fethard-on-Sea, Co Wexford and Navan Road, Dublin 7. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe defendants appeared at Dublin District Court (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe importation took place at Dublin Port (irishtimes.com)
- whenGardaí became aware in mid-2023 that McAuley was alive and began an investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe importation occurred on 22 September 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe case followed an investigation by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (irishtimes.com)
- investigationCustoms officers became suspicious of the articulated truck driven by Smullen (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAfter passing an initial hand-held scan, officials conducted an X-ray of the truck (irishtimes.com)
- courtShe was due to stand trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in January 2023 on theft and attempted deception charges. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe DPP directed all five would face trial on indictment in the Circuit Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtAll five were remanded in custody (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Martina Baxter imposed the sentence (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceShe was given a global sentence of four years with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions for four years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceSmullen was sentenced to six-and-a-half years with the last 18 months suspended for two years (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to 22 September 2024 when Smullen went into custody (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMcNay was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years earlier in the month (irishtimes.com)
- otherSmullen has nine previous convictions (irishtimes.com)
- otherPrevious convictions include burglary and handling stolen property in 2018, possession of stolen property in 2017, and an assault in 2009 (irishtimes.com)
- otherSmullen was under severe financial stress and receiving letters from the bank threatening repossession of his home (irishtimes.com)
- otherSmullen was promised €20,000 but never received any reward (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe co-accused contacted Smullen on Facebook after a number of years out of contact offering well-paid work (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 30 Oct2025Lorry driver transported €2.8m of cocaine hidden under cargo of Lego
Reports the sentencing of Noel Smullen, who had a lower level of involvement than co-accused Killian McNay. Details the method of concealment (metal compartment in trailer floor), the dry run from the Continent, Smullen's financial stress and prior convictions, and the judge's reasoning.
convicted, Noel Smullen, 58, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Smullenconvicted, Killian McNay, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Killian McNay - 30 Oct2025Man faces trial for possessing mobile phone in Mountjoy and directing criminal gang
First report of the charging of five individuals with connected organised crime offences; all remanded in custody with DPP directing trial on indictment in the Circuit Court.
accused, Barry Fowler, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Barry Fowleraccused, Killian McCabe, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Killian McCabeaccused, Rebecca Byrne, 28, female, named, irish (judged from name)Rebecca Byrneaccused, Eamon Doyle, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eamon Doyleaccused, Paul Dargan, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Dargan - 30 Oct2025Woman who faked her death to avoid trial jailed for three years
Reports the sentencing of Amy McAuley for faking her death to avoid a January 2023 trial and for multiple theft and deception offences, including a €10,000 KBC Bank loan, over €55,000 stolen from an employer, phones from Three Ireland, and a €9,000 death-in-service benefit payment.
convicted, Amy McAuley, 35, female, named, irish (judged from name)Amy McAuley