A Canadian who was found carrying over €590,000 of herbal cannabis in two suitcases in Dublin Airport was a “complete and utter patsy” in the operation, a court has heard.
Daunte Millar Wruck, 21, pleaded guilty to a count of importing a controlled drug for sale or supply on 1 August 2023. He has no previous convictions and has been in custody since this date.
Garda Peter Elliott told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that Wruck was stopped at Terminal One, Dublin Airport by customs officials.
He was carrying two suitcases, which were found to contain 29.8kg of herbal cannabis, with an estimated value of €596,000.
Wruck admitted possessing the suitcases but said he thought they contained artworks which he was taking to Birmingham.
Gda Elliott agreed with Paul Murray SC, defending, that his client entered an early guilty plea, answered all questions put to him and was as co-operative as possible, telling gardaí that he “took a chance”.
It was further accepted that Wruck, who has an address in Canada, told gardaí that he expected to receive $10,000 Canadian dollars (€7,000) for his involvement.
Gda Elliott agreed that Wruck gave gardaí the pin number to his phone.
The investigation was able to retrieve messages sent by a third party to Wruck instructing him to book a flight from Toronto via Ottawa to London and also provided money to pay for the flights.
It was accepted that the messages show an issue arose with the original flight and a new one was booked from Ottawa to Birmingham, travelling via Dublin. Wruck was to meet another individual at a hotel in Birmingham.
Gda Elliott agreed with Mr Murray that the third party was in control and Wruck was a “complete and utter patsy in the operation”.
Mr Murray told the court that his client is a young man with a work history. He built up debts and “someone suggested if he did this, he might get some money” for it.
He said Wruck took a “big gamble” and it “backfired spectacularly”.
Mr Murray asked the court to take into consideration his client’s young age, his lack of previous convictions and his lack of connection to Ireland, which will make his time in custody more difficult.
Wruck is doing well in custody and a number of certificates were provided to the court. A letter of apology was also handed in.
Judge Martin Nolan noted that a “substantial amount” of cannabis was found in the suitcases.
He said Wruck acted as a “transporter” and was “going to receive some reward” for his involvement.
“If he did not know he was transporting illicit drugs, he was certainly reckless in what he did,” the judge noted.
He said the court considered the mitigating factors including the guilty plea, Wruck’s young age at the time of the offence and his co-operation with gardaí.
Judge Nolan said he would impose a sentence of between five and six years for a more “mature adult” before handing Wruck a sentence of three and half years, backdated to 1 August last.
