A man who lived in a "drugs supermarket" was jailed for five years today after he pleaded guilty to being in possession of cannabis resin with a street value of over €6,000.
Mr John Heaphy (49) of Kerry Hall Road, Cork, previously admitted he made a trip to Malaga in Spain last February in order to collect drugs destined for the Irish market.
He was arrested in Cork on February 17th this year by gardaí who became suspicious of his behaviour in an estate on the northside of the city.
Gardaí recovered 504.7kg of cannabis resin from the vehicle which is enough to make nearly 5,000 hand-rolled cigarettes.
Supt Mick O'Loughlin told Cork Circuit Criminal Court that the defendant's former home in Rathpeacon Road in the city was comparable to a "drugs supermarket."
Judge Sean O'Donnabhain described Heaphy as a major player on the Cork drugs scene.