Mother and daughter 'drug mules' plead guilty over €1.28m Shannon drug seizure
A mother and daughter acting as drug mules have entered guilty pleas in connection with a seizure of an estimated €1.28 million worth of cannabis at Shannon airport two days before Christmas Day 2023.
At Ennis Circuit Court, Dovil Reifonaite (41), and Migle Kurieniute (21) both with an address at Newlands, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, pleaded guilty to on December 23rd at Shannon airport, having in their possession cannabis for the purpose of sale or supply at a time when the drugs in their possession had a market value of €13,000 or more.
The charges are contrary to Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
The court was told that Reifonaite’s English is limited and after entering her plea, Judge Francis Comerford asked “what is your plea, sorry?” and Reifonaite repeated, more clearly "guilty".
Counsel for Reifonaite, Barry White, requested a Probation Report for his client.
White said Reifonaite was acting as a drug mule when found with the drugs at Shannon airport on December 23rd, 2023.
He said that Reifonaite is someone with no previous convictions and has parental responsibilities for both the co-accused and young family members.
Judge Francis Comerford directed that a Probation Report be carried out in respect of both accused before the court.
White said his client’s English is limited and her daughter Migle has translated for her during a consultation but asked that an interpreter be present for the sentencing hearing and Judge Comerford also granted this.
White said a Lithuanian interpreter will be required.
On conviction, an offence under Section 15(a) carries a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 years but a judge has the discretion to impose a lesser sentence in certain circumstances and only a very small portion of those convicted of Section 15(a) drug dealing offences do receive the 10 years in prison in the criminal courts.
The two remain on bail but were initially remanded in custody from Christmas Eve 2023 to March 10, 2024, after bail was refused in the district court.
The two eventually secured bail at the High Court.
At the Christmas Eve 2023 court sitting, gardaí told the bail hearing at Limerick District Court that at 11.16 am on December 23rd, 2023, the two accused disembarked from a flight at Shannon Airport from Boston.
Gardaí alleged that officers attached to Revenue discovered 64 kg of vacuum-packed packages of cannabis with a street value of €1.28 million in four suitcases belonging to the two accused. It was a “significant quantity” of drugs, gardaí added.
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Solicitor for the two at the time, John Casey, told the court that Reifonaite and Kurieniute had lived in Mullingar for the past eight years and that they would abide by any bail conditions.
“Ms Kurieniute has been here since she was 12. They have set up home here, and if granted bail they will sign on daily or even twice daily at a garda station, this is where their life is,” said Casey.
Judge Comerford said that the drawing up of the Probation Reports will delay sentencing and adjourned the case to May 1 to fix a date for sentencing later in the year.
Judge Comerford further remanded the two on bail and excused their attendance in court on May 1.
