Suspended sentence for man who advertised drugs for sale on Snapchat

A Tipperary man who was advertising drugs in various weights for sale in Cork city through Snapchat was ultimately caught with €43,000 worth of cannabis at an apartment in Cork.

He told gardaí he got involved in drug dealing in order to save money to buy a house.

Now he has been given a fully suspended jail term at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Detective Sergeant Fergal Long said the garda divisional drugs unit went to Washington St with a warrant to search the home of Dean Campion. The accused was present outside the property at the time and his key was used for the gardaí to gain entry.

Once inside, the officers recovered €43,000 worth of cannabis from Dean Campion’s bedroom, along with €200 cash. He was arrested at the scene and later interviewed at length.

“Initially he tried to play down his involvement. He said he was holding it for someone else.

“He was trying to save money for a house at the time. He continues to say he was acting as a storeman.

“But he was advertising on Snapchat, selling drugs in various weights across the city. I don’t believe he was acting as a storeman as he insinuates,” Det Sgt Long said.

Defence barrister Nikki O’Sullivan defence barrister said the 26-year-old is from Tipperary and pleaded guilty to the charges against him and cooperated with the investigation which related to a drugs seizure that was made almost two years ago.

Judge James McCourt described it as an “organised, orchestrated endeavour.”

The judge said the quantity of over 2kg of cannabis brought it well over the €13,000 value which allows for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years unless there are exceptional circumstances.

After considering all the factors in this case, Judge McCourt imposed a fully suspended four-year sentence.

The sentence is suspended on condition that he is of good behaviour for the next five years.

Dean Campion is from Wolfetone Place, Liberty Square, Thurles, Co Tipperary, but was living at an apartment on Washington St, Cork, at the time he was arrested for the drugs crime, on December 9, 2021.