A MAN who imported £5 million worth of heroin on behalf of a major Dublin drugs organisation has been jailed for six years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court by Judge Elizabeth Dunne.
Robert Russell and his former business partner, Gary Blake, had made nine or 10 previous trips on behalf of the Manchester-based west Dublin gang since February 1998. They were both offered a fee of £2,500 and £500 expenses for the job.
Russell (33), Glenhurst Crescent, Manchester, and Blake, of Copster Hill, Oldham, Manchester, pleaded guilty to importing 18.5 kg of heroin on October 31st, 1998.
Blake's sentence was adjourned to March 24th to enable a psychological report to be prepared.
Det Sgt Gregory Sheehan told Mr Fergal Foley, prosecuting, that Russell was one of four people who came into Dun Laoghaire on the ferry in two hired Ford Mondeo cars.
Gardai arrested them at the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, and recovered 18.5 kg of heroin with an estimated street value of £5 million. The heroin was concealed in the lining of the rear-door panel of both cars.
Russell and Blake were accompanied by Joanna Schofield (30), of Glenhurst Crescent, and Cheryl Hume (20), of Copster Place, Oldham, Manchester, who have also pleaded guilty to the same charge and are remanded on bail for sentence on October 20th. Det Sgt Sheehan said both men became involved in importing the heroin after getting into financial difficulties with a sandblasting business they had started in Manchester.
Russell has three minor previous convictions. Mr Barry White SC, defending, asked Judge Dunne to read a number of testimonials submitted on behalf of Russell and his partner, Joanna Schofield, who have a five-yearold daughter.
He said Russell pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and had met this case in a frank fashion. The court should not leave him without hope and "should leave him some light at the end of the tunnel", by allowing him to return to England before his daughter was too old.
Mr White said a prison sentence for Russell would be more difficult for an Englishman as he would not be visited by his family. He was already in the separation unit of Mountjoy where there was no recreational facility.
Judge Dunne said the tragedy caused by drugs was unveiled daily in the courts where most of the crime was caused by drugs. There was also the tragedy of so many destroyed and lost lives as a result of heroin. Russell became involved on his own admission to make money.
"The Russells of this world make it possible for the masters involved to survive and prosper and it would send out the wrong signal if the court didn't impose a long sentence," she said.
Judge Dunne noted Russell was working in prison to improve himself and a testimonial had been received from the prison assistant governor. She would review the sentence in October 2001.