Two men arrested in cannabis grow houses which contained a combined total of €415,000 of the drug, have been jailed for a combined nine years.
Aloyzas Bukantus (45) of Church Street, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, pleaded guilty at Galway Circuit Criminal Court to one count of possession of drugs for sale or supply and one count of money laundering.
His co-accused, Tomas Dumbliavskas (31) from Lithuania, pleaded guilty to one count of cultivation of cannabis.
The offending took place on March 13, 2024, at properties in Skehana South, Woodland and Tallavnamraher, Creggs, both in Ballinasloe, Co Galway.
Gardai Mark Murphy told Brendan McDonagh BL, prosecuting, that gardai obtained two search warrants for the properties, which were executed simultaneously on the day in question.
In the property in Skehana South, a sophisticated grow house was discovered with 52 cannabis plants and ] herb with a combined value of €112,000. Bukantus was present at this property.
At the same time, the second house in Creggs was searched, with 211 cannabis plants and herb found with a combined value of €303,000. Dumbliavskas was found hiding in a partition wall at the house.
Both men were arrested, detained and interviewed. During interview both men made some admissions and provided some level of co-operation.
The court heard that Dumbliavskas had travelled to Ireland two weeks before the house was searched, and Bukantus had been living in Ireland since December 2023.
Both men have been in custody since their arrests. They have limited English and entered guilty pleas.
Bernard Madden SC, defending Dumbliavskas, said his client came to Ireland believing that he was going to work as a gardener. He is a father of two and upon his release from prison, he wishes to return to Lithuania to his family.
Mr Madden said his client has no substance abuse issues and committed the offence out of financial motivation.
Judge Eoin Garavan sentenced Dumbliavskas to four years in prison and suspended the final 12 months, subject to Dumbliavskas undertaking to leave this jurisdiction within two weeks upon his release. He backdated this sentence to when he went into custody.
John Hayden SC, defending Bukantus, said his client has fully engaged with the probation services. He said he has accepted full responsibility for his offending and handed a letter of apology into the court.
Mr Hayden told the court that his client borrowed money in Lithuania so he could undergo surgery for a brain tumour and was sent to Ireland to work off his debt.
Judge Garavan said Bukantus had a much bigger role than his co-accused and he regarded him as “mid-management” within the operation. He noted that this defendant does not wish to return to Lithuania upon his release as he fears for his safety.
Judge Garavan said Bukantus was caught red-handed, but his plea was in the best interest of the court. He sentenced him to seven years in prison, suspending the final year for two years. He also placed him under the supervision of the probation services for one year post-release.