Duo charged over €348k Dublin Airport cannabis find after ‘lost luggage’ report

Tom Tuite

A US security guard was arrested for having €280,000 worth of cannabis in his bag after reporting missing luggage at Dublin Airport.

Ulises Mendez, 30, with an address at North West Hope Street, Santa Anna, California, had bail set at €10,000 at Dublin District Court on Wednesday.

Judge Treasa Kelly noted from Garda Emmet O'Byrne that the accused arrived on Sunday on a flight from San Diego via Chicago. He alerted officials about his missing luggage and left.

Meanwhile, the baggage was "screened", and he was contacted the following day.

The court heard that he had initially planned to leave Ireland on January 27th, but rebooked to return to America on Tuesday this week.

He presented at US customs, who alerted Irish officials, and gardaí came and arrested Mr Mendez and charged him with possessing cannabis for sale or supply.

The accused had nowhere to reside in Ireland, no ties to the country, and was a flight risk, the garda contended.

Defence solicitor Luke Staines pleaded for bail, saying his client would surrender his passport, which would make it difficult to return to the United States.

Wearing a green sweater saying "Temple Bar", he stood silently throughout the hearing and did not give evidence.

Co-accused Ricky Adame, 27, who also has an address in Santa Anna, California, faces the same charge and returned to the airport after he reported his bag was missing. Garda Patrick Stynes alleged Mr Adame's bag contained €68,000 worth of cannabis and seed capsules. He was granted bail of €5,000, with a deposit of €3,000.

Legal aid was granted to the pair, who have yet to enter pleas and must surrender their travel documents if they take up bail. They were remanded in custody to appear again later this month.