GARDAI made one of the State's biggest seizures of amphetamine during a search of a luxury apartment in Dublin last year, a court heard yesterday.
Before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court were an unemployed man, Paul Enright, and his wife, Ellen Downey. He took responsibility for the £100,000 worth of amphetamine and £5,000 worth of cocaine, found by detectives.
The amphetamine was 5 per cent pure but was normally 2 per cent pure when sold.
Downey had a bag containing glucose which would have been used to add bulk to the drug.
Sgt Ashley O'Sullivan told the court that gardai found £2,445 in a fridge in the apartment and while Enright did not admit ownership, it was believed to be his money from drugs. Three mobile phones and a digital weighing scales were also discovered.
The apartment, at Parliament Buildings in Dame Street, was rented in Downey's name at £500 a month for seven months before the search. Both Enright and Downey had paid the rent at different times, the sergeant said.
Enright and Downey pleaded guilty last October to their roles and their cases were adjourned as Downey was pregnant. She had her baby before Christmas.
Enright (30) had pleaded guilty to possessing the amphetamine for supply on January 22nd, 1996. Judge Cyril Kelly adjourned sentencing until tomorrow saying he needed time to consider the evidence.
Downey (20) admitted allowing her apartment to be used for the manufacture of the drug and is to be sentenced on February 24th next.
Sgt O'Sullivan told Mr Paul McDermott, prosecuting, that both defendants were stopped outside the apartment and Downey had the bag containing glucose.
They were brought back to the apartment. During the search Enright was noticed trying to push three bags under a sofa.
Gardai found 10 further bags under the sofa.
Later examination confirmed the bags contained the amphetamine and the smaller amount of cocaine.
Sgt O'Sullivan said amphetamine was a synthetic stimulant which was usually snorted. It was also used to make ecstasy or used in conjunction with heroin to prolong the "hit".
Enright, one of 11 children had 14 previous convictions but none for drugs. He had worked in the past, including working in his father's scrap business, but was unemployed when arrested.
In reply to Judge Kelly SgtO'Sullivan said he was not aware of Enright owning a car or the kind of lifestyle he had.
However gardai were aware at the time that Enright was "actively involved" in drugs operation.