Man in his 30s detained after €462,000 cannabis seizure at Dublin Airport
On 6 July 2025, 52kg of herbal cannabis worth €1,040,000 was seized at Dublin Airport, and on 7 July a further 23kg worth €462,000 was found concealed in the baggage of a passenger arriving from Thailand. A man in his 30s was detained under the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act in connection with the Monday seizure. mother Hellasha Tingman (48) and her son Shawndell Gaston (30), of the Bronx, New York, USA, were arrested in relation to the Sunday seizure and charged with unlawful possession and importation of cannabis and having it for sale or supply. They appeared before Dublin District Court on 7 July and were remanded in custody to appear on 11 July for DPP directions.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested7 Jul
- Charged7 Jul
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- 52kg of herbal cannabis with an estimated value of €1,040,000 was seized at Dublin Airport on 6 July 2025.
- 23kg of herbal cannabis with an estimated value of €462,000 was found concealed in vacuum-packed packages in the baggage of a passenger arriving from Thailand at Dublin Airport on 7 July 2025.
- Where
- The seizures took place at Dublin Airport, with Tingman arrested at customs in Terminal 2.
- When
- The two seizures occurred on 6 and 7 July 2025.
- Investigation
- A man in his 30s was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at a Dublin Garda station in connection with the 7 July seizure.
- Investigations into both seizures are ongoing.
- Charges
- Tingman and Gaston were each charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act with unlawful possession and importation of cannabis and having it for sale or supply.
- In court
- Both appeared before Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court on 7 July 2025.
- Both were remanded in custody to appear on 11 July 2025 for DPP directions.
- Other details
- Tingman gave no reply when charged with possessing 26.2kg of cannabis in two suitcases with an approximate value of €524,000.
- Gaston made no reply when charged.
- Tingman's defence stated she earns $177 a week and pays $790 rent.
21 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAlmost €1 million worth of cannabis was seized at Dublin Airport (irishtimes.com)
- whatTingman was charged with possessing 26.2kg of cannabis in two suitcases (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe total seizure involved 49kg of cannabis worth almost €1 million (irishtimes.com)
- whatA man in his 30s was detained by gardaí on Monday in connection with a cannabis seizure at Dublin Airport. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAbout 23kg of herbal cannabis was discovered concealed in vacuum-packed packages within the baggage of a passenger. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe passenger had disembarked from a flight originating in Thailand. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA separate seizure of 52kg of herbal cannabis with an estimated value of €1,040,000 was made at the airport on Sunday. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA mother and son were arrested in relation to the Sunday seizure and appeared before Dublin District Court on Monday. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe mother and son are Hellasha Tingman (48) and her son Shawndell Gaston (30), of the Bronx, New York, USA. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe arrest took place at customs in Terminal 2 of Dublin Airport (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe man is being detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at a Dublin Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationInvestigations into both seizures are ongoing. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeBoth were charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act (irishtimes.com)
- chargeBoth were charged with unlawful possession and importation of cannabis and having it for sale or supply (irishtimes.com)
- courtThey appeared before Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtBoth were remanded in custody to appear again on 11 July for DPP directions (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge held Tingman was entitled to legal aid and noted she was making a bail application (irishtimes.com)
- courtGaston was not applying for bail at that stage (irishtimes.com)
- otherTingman gave no reply when charged (irishtimes.com)
- otherGaston made no reply when charged (irishtimes.com)
- otherTingman's defence stated she earns $177 a week and pays $790 rent (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 7 Jul2025Man detained after second seizure of cannabis at Dublin Airport within two days
First report of the Monday seizure; also details a separate Sunday seizure of 52kg worth €1,040,000 in which Hellasha Tingman (48) and Shawndell Gaston (30) of the Bronx, New York, were charged with unlawful possession and importation of cannabis.
suspect, 30s, male - 7 Jul2025US mother and son charged over €1m cannabis seizure at Dublin Airport
First report of the charges and remand in custody. Details the split of the seizure between the two accused, their bail positions, and the next court date of 11 July for DPP directions.
accused, Hellasha Tingman, 48, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Hellasha Tingmanaccused, Shawndell Gaston, 30, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Shawndell Gaston