A DUTCH truck driver has gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for importing €5.6 million of heroin hidden in a shipment of flowers.
Jan Stuurmann (41), Curran Ard, Athy, Co Kildare, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of possessing and importing the drugs with another truck driver at a Customs warehouse on Castleforbes Road, Dublin, on December 16th, 2008.
Opening the case, Paul Greene SC, prosecuting, told the jury that Mr Stuurmann and another man Thomas Van Son, were both driving large 40ft trucks for a transport company, Van Dongen.
He said the jury would hear evidence that both trucks entered Dublin Port carrying large consignments of fresh tulips from the Netherlands.
The trucks had arrived in Ireland at about 5pm after crossing the Irish Sea on the Stena Adventurer ship. Both trucks and drivers were taken to a separate area where a search was carried out.
Several blocks of heroin were allegedly found in Mr Van Son’s truck among the racks of flowers. Mr Greene said the trial would also hear Garda evidence that the drugs were worth €5,600,360.
The jury was told it did not have to concern itself with Mr Van Son’s case and that he was not before the courts. The trial continues.