Language student transported cocaine ‘to cover college fees’

An English language student agreed to transport cocaine because he needed money to pay college fees, a court has heard.

Lucas Lima (25) was offered between €1,000 and €3,000 to bring a bag containing €139,650 in cocaine from Spain into Dublin.

The Brazilian national, of Mountjoy Square, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, to importation of drugs at Dublin Airport on January 11th last.

Lima was picked up by Revenue officials at the airport using customs profiling techniques. He was returning from a two day trip to Barcelona and had an extra suitcase with him.

When stopped, customs officers found three plastic bottles in the second case. The bottle lids were glued tight and when forced open they contained cocaine.

Seán Guerin SC, defending, said at the time his client had to renew his student visa to stay in Ireland. To do this he had to have a place in an English language college and this cost thousands of euro, counsel said.

Lima told gardaí he met a Brazilian man who knew he needed money to cover these costs and the man offered to pay him on completing the delivery.

Garda Kevin Nolan said Lima knew he would be bringing something illicit or illegal. He agreed he was naive to get involved.

Judge Elma Sheahan said she wanted time to consider her verdict and adjourned sentencing until Thursday.

Mr Guerin said the offence was out of character for his client and that Lima was unlikely to ever re-offend. Counsel said Lima would undertake to leave Ireland and never return.