Friday 30 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. 15547People smuggling (unlawfully assisting entry into the State) · Co. Dublin · 5 May 2024

Man jailed for people smuggling friend into Ireland at Dublin Airport

On 5 May 2024 gardaí stopped Kevin Ahmetay, a 26-year-old Albanian man, and another Albanian man, who gave a false name and produced a false Bulgarian passport, at Terminal One, Dublin Airport. Ahmetay was charged with one count of unlawfully assisting someone's entry into the State and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to 16 months, backdated to 5 May 2024, from a headline sentence of three years, and the latest development, reported on 7 November 2024, is that he was jailed.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced7 Nov
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Ahmetay's friend gave a false name and produced a false Bulgarian passport.
Where
The two men were stopped by gardaí at Terminal One, Dublin Airport.
When
The offence occurred on 5 May 2024.
Investigation
  • Gardaí linked the two men because they travelled on the same booking and checked in in sequence.
  • The friend told gardaí he was an old school friend of Ahmetay's, while Ahmetay said there was no connection between him and the other man.
Other details
  • Ahmetay produced a genuine Bulgarian passport in his own name and was carrying a genuine Albanian passport belonging to his friend, which he intended to return once they got into Ireland.
  • Ahmetay did not answer questions on legal advice but indicated early that he would plead guilty.
  • The garda agreed there was no evidence of commercial gain for Ahmetay.
  • Ahmetay has one previous UK conviction for producing cannabis, for which he received a suspended sentence, and the judge noted he was unlikely to reoffend.
  • Ahmetay is on an enhanced prison regime, working as a cleaner and attending school and gym.
  • Ahmetay and his friend were both from Albania.
Charges
Ahmetay was charged with one count of unlawfully assisting someone's entry into the State and pleaded guilty.
In court
The judge said any sentence must deter third parties who may consider embarking on this course.
Sentence
The judge set a headline sentence of three years, reduced to 16 months and backdated to 5 May 2024 because of Ahmetay's mitigation.
16 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAhmetay's friend gave a false name and produced a false Bulgarian passport. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe two men were stopped by gardaí at Terminal One, Dublin Airport. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe offence occurred on 5 May. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí established a connection between the two men because they travelled on the same booking and checked in in sequence. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe friend told gardaí he was an old school friend of Ahmetay's and was seeking entry under a false passport. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtAhmetay pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully assisting someone's entry into the State. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of three years, reduced to 16 months backdated to 5 May because of Ahmetay's mitigation. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherAhmetay and his friend were both from Albania. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherAhmetay produced a genuine Bulgarian passport in his own name and said there was no connection between him and the other man. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherAhmetay did not answer questions on legal advice but indicated early he would plead guilty. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherAhmetay was carrying a genuine Albanian passport belonging to his friend, which he intended to return once they got into Ireland. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherAhmetay has one previous conviction from the UK for producing cannabis, for which he received a suspended sentence. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe garda agreed there was no evidence of commercial gain for Ahmetay. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe judge said any sentence must deter third parties who may be thinking of embarking on this course. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe judge noted Ahmetay was unlikely to reoffend. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherAhmetay is on an enhanced regime in prison, working as a cleaner and attending school and gym. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 7 Nov2024
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Man jailed for 'people smuggling' friend into Ireland in breach of immigration regulations

    Reports the guilty plea, facts of the stop at Dublin Airport, the sentence of 16 months backdated to 5 May, and the judge's remarks on deterrence and mitigation.

    convicted, Kevin Ahmetay, 26, male, Albanian, named, non-irishKevin Ahmetaysuspect, male, Albanian, non-irish