Drug dealer caught with 50 bags of cocaine on way to Cork rugby event

David Forsythe

A drug dealer who was caught in possession of more than 50 individual bags of cocaine while he was on his way to popular rugby event in Kinsale, Co Cork, has pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply.

Court presenter Sergeant Tom Mulcahy told Bandon District Court that Mamadi Sialou, 21, of Cedarwood Drive, Castle Heights, Carrigaline, Co Cork was stopped at a garda checkpoint in the village of Belgooly near Kinsale on May 5th, 2024.

Giving evidence, Detective Garda Colin O’Mahony said that a checkpoint manned by members of the Cork West Divisional Drugs Unit and local gardaí had been set up in Belgooly on Sunday, May 5th, 2024.

Det. Gda O’Mahony said it was a very busy weekend in the area because the Kinsale 7s rugby event was being held nearby.

He told the court that at about 5pm a grey BMW car approached the checkpoint heading towards Kinsale.

When gardaí spoke to the driver, identified as Mamadi Sialou, he appeared to be very nervous.

Following initial questioning, a search was carried out and Mr Sialou was found to have 49 individual bags of suspected cocaine concealed in two “pots” hidden in his pants and another two bags were discovered behind one of the car’s sun visors.

Det. Gda O’Mahony said that analysis carried out by Forensic Science Ireland confirmed the substance was cocaine. The total amount recovered was 33 grams with an estimated value of €2,310.

The court heard that Mr Sialou was arrested and taken to Bandon Garda Station where he made “full and frank admissions” that he intended to sell the drugs for €70 per gram at the Kinsale 7s event.

He added that Mr Sialou said he was selling the drugs because he had got into a drug debt.

Defence solicitor Myra Dineen said that Mr Sialou was a second-year student studying automotive technology and management at MTU.

She told the court that her client lived with his mother and sister in Carrigaline and his mother was “horrified” to hear what had happened.

Ms Dineen told the court that a conviction would be “a disaster” for him. She said that between the ages of 18 and 21, Mr Sialou had got into company “that wasn’t good for him” and that “certain advantages” were taken.

The court heard that Mr Sialou had no previous convictions and Ms Dinneen asked Judge John King to consider ordering a probation report to “see where he is going".

Judge King convicted Mr Sialou and ordered him to carry out 120 hours of community service in lieu of four months in prison. Recognisance in the event of an appeal was fixed on Sialou’s own bond of €400, no cash required.