A TEENAGE boy from the Dominican Republic and his mother were caught smuggling €10,000 worth of cocaine into Ireland, the Children’s Court heard yesterday.
The 17-year-old boy had been charged at the Children’s Court last week with possessing cocaine, possession with intent to supply, and importation of drugs, at Dublin airport on August 22nd last.
He had been remanded in custody to appear again yesterday where a bail application was heard.
The boy’s solicitor said that the Health Service Executive (HSE) would be able to provide accommodation initially in out-of hours emergency hostels and later it was hoped a more permanent foster placement would be arranged.
The solicitor also said the teenager, whose mother is in custody on remand, would surrender travel documents and would abide by any bail terms set down by the court.
Garda Gary Dillane told Judge Bryan Smyth that the value of drugs had not yet been determined.
However, he added that “11 pellets of cocaine” were found and it was believed the drugs were worth about €10,000.
Garda Dillane also objected to bail in light of the seriousness of the charge saying he believed that if released the boy “may not stand trial.”
Judge Smyth said that in relation to the immediate accommodation proposed for the teenager by the HSE “that is something that would not impress me in the context of a bail application.”
The boy was further remanded in custody for two weeks to St Patrick’s Institution pending directions from the DPP.
The boy had been arrested at the airport and taken to Santry Garda station where he was held under provisions of the Drug Trafficking Act.
His period of questioning was suspended later that morning when he had to be brought to the Mater hospital, in Dublin.
It was resumed on his release from the hospital on Thursday when he was charged with the offences, to which he made no reply.
Last week the boy’s mother, who is 46-years-old and is also a co-defendant in the case, was remanded in custody to appear in the Children’s Court on September 30th next.
She is facing the same charges.
Garda Dillane had said that charges under “section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act” may be brought.
That relates to having illegal drugs valued in excess of €13,000, which on conviction can carry a minimum mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.
The teenager remained silent during the yesterday’s proceedings which were translated for him by an interpreter.