Cavan man sentenced for transporting €1 million cannabis

A truck driver from Cavan has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison after he attempted to transport cannabis worth over €1 million. Gerard Doran, 60, from Belturbet, pled guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply at Dublin Port on February 25, 2021. The drugs, valued at €1,020,400, were discovered when Doran’s truck was searched after arriving on a ferry from Wales. A sniffer dog alerted the officers to the cab of the truck. During the search, police found eight bags of cannabis. Doran admitted to the authorities that he was paid £4,195, about €5,029, to transport the drugs back to Ireland. He cooperated with the police investigation, even directing them to the hidden money. Detective Garda Stephen Gillespie shared that CCTV footage and phone records confirmed Doran's involvement in the drug transport operation. Doran mentioned he was facing health issues and financial struggles at the time. In court, Doran received support from family and presented testimonials highlighting his medical conditions. Judge Martin Nolan noted Doran's quick admissions of guilt and acknowledged the difficulties he faced. The judge considered Doran’s vulnerability and financial distress before delivering the sentence.