A Nigerian man has been nabbed with cannabis with an estimated street value of €20,000.
The Nigerian man was identified as Eddy Osagie, a 50-year-old immigrant.
Equally important, the man told Police the substance was a completely different type of material to normal cannabis, adding that he was using it to make soup.
Reports monitored by The Infostride in the British media indicate that Osagie was caught with two packets of the paste-like material in a cereal box inside another bag in his car when it was stopped by Irish Police.
The arresting officer, William Hosford said the offence came to light due to the smell of cannabis coming from the car, Echo Live reports.
“Two packets were found in cereal boxes in the car,” Garda Hosford said.
The cannabis weighed over a kilo and the valuation of the drug was put at €20,000.
“Osagie was arrested and made certain admissions. He said he had it for medical needs and used to use it for making soup,” Garda Hosford said.
The Nigerian man has reportedly been living in Ireland since 2003. However, he had no previous convictions for drugs offences.
Elizabeth O’Connell, defence senior counsel said, “What the guards found was a type of paste. It was unusual. It was quite a squashed together package. (Also), it was not the normal cannabis.
“He was very forthcoming. It is an African concoction. It was mixed with beans. He used to put it in food.”
Meanwhile, the defence counsel disclosed that he used to smoke some of the cannabis. However, she told the court that this was out of character and there was nothing like this in his past.
Presiding Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin imposed a jail term of two years, with the last year suspended.
“It was very knowingly done and with a curious sense of entitlement that he had it for medicine slash food value slash ‘this is what I do’.
“He had no previous convictions for crimes of this sort. Had he arrived with a urinalysis which this case was crying out for – and he had that option – that he and others would have been acutely aware to him and others that it would progress his case.”
Due to the fact that the car he was caught in was used to carry the drug, Judge Ó Donnabháin also disqualified the man from driving for four years
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate