Ireland Case No. 1371Possession of controlled drugs (cannabis) · Co. Dublin · 7 Jul 2025
US man sentenced to four years over Dublin Airport cannabis importation
On 6 July 2025, 49kg of cannabis (reported as 52kg in some accounts) worth almost €1 million was seized at Dublin Airport from the baggage of Hellasha Tingman (48) and her son Shawndell Gaston (30, reported as 31 in the sentencing article), of the Bronx, New York, USA, arriving on a flight from John F Kennedy International Airport. Both were charged with unlawful possession and importation of cannabis under the Misuse of Drugs Act and remanded in custody at Dublin District Court on 7 July. Gaston, an American national, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to four years in prison in February 2026. Tingman is to be sentenced in March 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested7 Jul
- Charged7 Jul
- In court7 Jul
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced26 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- 49kg of cannabis, reported as 52kg in some accounts, worth almost €1 million was seized at Dublin Airport on 6 July 2025.
- Tingman was charged with possessing 26.2kg of cannabis in two suitcases with an approximate value of €524,000.
- Gaston's portion consisted of 48 packets containing €424,000 worth of cannabis.
- Where
- The seizure took place at customs in Terminal 2 of Dublin Airport.
- When
- The seizure occurred on Sunday 6 July 2025 and the court appearance was on Monday 7 July 2025.
- Other details
- Both were on an inbound flight from John F Kennedy International Airport, New York.
- Tingman is to be sentenced in March 2026.
- Gaston has no previous convictions and told gardaí he did not know what was in the suitcases.
- Tingman's defence stated she earns $177 a week and pays $790 rent.
- Gaston's age is reported as 30 in most accounts and 31 in the sentencing article.
- Charges
- Both were charged with unlawful possession and importation of cannabis, and having it for sale or supply, under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
- In court
- Both appeared before Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court on 7 July 2025, were remanded in custody, and were set to appear again on 11 July for DPP directions.
- Sentence
- Gaston pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to four years in prison in February 2026.
45 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMs Tingman was charged with possessing 26.2kg of cannabis in two suitcases, with an approximate value of €524,000. (rte.ie)
- whatThe overall seizure involved 49kg of cannabis. (rte.ie)
- 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)
- whatGaston pleaded guilty to importing cannabis at Dublin Airport on 6 July 2025 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThere were 48 packets in the suitcases containing €424,000 worth of cannabis (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe cannabis seizure took place at Dublin Airport. (rte.ie)
- whereMs Tingman was arrested at customs in Terminal 2. (rte.ie)
- whereThe arrest took place at customs in Terminal 2 of Dublin Airport (irishtimes.com)
- whereGaston was on a flight from JFK airport accompanied by his mother (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 with unlawful possession and importation of cannabis, and having it for sale or supply. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- chargeBoth were charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act (irishtimes.com)
- courtThey appeared before Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court facing bail objections. (rte.ie)
- courtBoth were remanded in custody. (rte.ie)
- courtMs Tingman was making a bail application at this stage and was granted legal aid. (rte.ie)
- courtMr Gaston's solicitor said he was not applying for bail at this stage. (rte.ie)
- courtBoth were remanded in custody to appear again on 11 July for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. (rte.ie)
- 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)
- sentenceGaston was jailed for four years (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceGaston will be serving a sentence in an Irish prison environment (irishtimes.com)
- otherMs Tingman had been on an inbound flight from John F Kennedy International Airport. (rte.ie)
- otherMr Gaston made no reply when charged with the same category of offences in connection with the rest of the seizure. (rte.ie)
- 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)
- otherGaston has no previous convictions (irishtimes.com)
- otherHis mother Hellasha Tingman is to be sentenced next month in relation to the incident (irishtimes.com)
- otherGaston told gardaí he had accommodation booked in Dundalk, Co Louth (irishtimes.com)
- otherGaston said he did not know what was going to be in the suitcases (irishtimes.com)
- otherGaston worked in security and never left the US (irishtimes.com)
- otherGaston only got a passport three days before he left for Ireland (irishtimes.com)
- otherThere was an element of naivety involved (irishtimes.com)
- otherGaston is from the Bronx and he and his mother had a very strong drug addiction (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 26 Feb2026US national jailed for four years for possession of cannabis worth over €400,000
Reports the sentencing of Shawndell Gaston to four years in prison and notes his mother Hellasha Tingman is to be sentenced next month. Includes mitigation details about financial difficulties, drug addiction, and naivety.
convicted, Shawndell Gaston, 31, male, American, named, non-irishShawndell Gastonaccused, Hellasha Tingman, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Hellasha Tingman - 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 - 7 Jul2025US mother and son remanded in custody over drug seizure
Reports the Dublin District Court appearance on 7 July 2025, where both were charged and remanded in custody, with details of the quantities seized and the flight origin.
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