Leaving Certificate student from Kildare 'found with €500,000 worth of drugs'

A Leaving Certificate student allegedly found with an estimated €500,000 worth of drugs has appeared before Naas District Court.

Scott Ennis, 18, whose address was given as 3300 Lakeside Park, Newbridge, is being prosecuted for having the drugs at that address on February 17.

The court was told that he was arrested and  conveyed to Newbridge garda station.

When charged the defendant, who was accompanied in court by his parents, made no reply.

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The court heard that the drug found is Methyl methcathinone HCL (M-Cat).

The synthetic drug is relatively new and a garda witness told Judge Desmond Zaidan that 10 kgs of it was intercepted by customs officials on arrival in this country before it was forwarded to Newbridge.

The garda added “It’s not something we saw previously.”

It was further claimed that the drugs were inside a footrest-type structure and the defendant’s name and address were on the package.

The court was also told that the find followed a pre-planned operation involved gardai attached to the national drugs and organised crime section, locally based gardaí and customs staff.

The court was also told that gardaí are unsure if the defendant is acting on his own and it is thought the drugs originated in The Netherlands.

Gardaí are liaising with law enforcement personnel in The Netherlands and the investigation is ongoing.

The court was further told the defendant the package allegedly contained designer clothing and he was offered €250 for allegedly accepting the package.

The defendant has not come to garda attention and there was no objection to bail, subject to a number of conditions, including that he hand over his passport.

The court heard the defendant lives with his grandmother and defending solicitor Tim Kennelly said he is a fluent Irish speaker, having attended a gaelscoil. Mr Kennelly also said he had completed his mock Leaving Cert exams.

The defendant was granted bail on a cash bond of €2,000 and is to sign on three times a week at Newbridge garda station. He must observe a curfew between 10pm and 6am and live with his mother at an address in Belin Woods, Newbridge.

Judge Zaidan granted free legal aid and adjourned the case to September 18.