Seven-year sentence for man caught smuggling €1.2m of heroin

A MAN caught smuggling €1.2m worth of heroin into Dublin Airport has been jailed for seven years.

Mudassar Khan (27) had come off a flight from Dubai and was stopped by customs officers when he tried to enter the ‘blue channel’ for travellers within the EU.

His bags were searched and the customs official found 13kg of heroin wrapped up in one of his suitcases. Gardaí were alerted and arrested Khan.

When interviewed, Khan said he lived in the UK and was a drug addict with a drug debt of £2,500 (€2,850).

He said he had agreed to transport a package but claimed he thought it was just cigarettes.

Questioned further about who gave him the drugs, he told investigators: “I’m not speaking no more, they are going to end up killing us.”

He said he was in fear and couldn’t give names.

“My friend got machinegunned down for giving names before. I’m in fear. These people go to extremes,” he said.

Khan, of Shore Rd, Oldham, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importation and possession for sale or supply of heroin on October 6, 2018.

He has one previous conviction for drug dealing.

Aoife O’Halloran BL, defending, told the court that her client had become addicted to cannabis, cocaine and crack cocaine and built up a drug debt. She said the debt led to unambiguous threats being made to Khan and he was left in no doubt that he had to transport the drugs.

Ms O’Halloran said the father of one was extremely remorseful and had insight into how destructive heroin was. Khan even telephoned ‘Crimestoppers’ at one stage about heroin in his community, she said.

Judge Melanie Greally said that even if Khan didn’t know he was moving heroin, he was extremely reckless to transport such a large amount of contraband. She noted in mitigation the pressure he was put under, his remorse and the fact that he is a non-national in prison far from home.