By Andrew Carey
A DRUG courier used by a Lithuanian criminal gang was in fear of life if he didn’t transport heroin to Limerick.
Mindaugas Palizija (21) of Nottingham Street, Dublin was arrested when he stepped of a bus from Dublin with €3,540 worth of heroin in his pocket ready for sale on March 5 last.
Having been remanded in custody since his arrest, he pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply.
Limerick Circuit Court heard that he was to meet another Lithuanian man at Colbert Station but gardaí had him under surveillance.
Prosecuting counsel John O’Sullivan said that Palizija was found with 114 clear plastic bags of heroin in his jacket.
He told Gardaí that he had been ordered to travel from Dublin to Limerick with the drugs.
Defence counsel Cian Kelly said his client fell in with the gang who were the only group that “provided hospitality” to him in Ireland. He was ordered to deal drugs to work off his own debt with the gang.
Palizija was one of a number of vulnerable young men from Lithuania who had come to the attention of gardai investigating the sale and supply of drugs in Limerick. Garda said that he was a drug user and was recruited to come to Ireland.
From autumn of last year, Gardaí were aware that various Lithuanians who had been in the country only a short time were found in possession of heroin. Interpol confirmed that the accused had no previous convictions either in Ireland or Lithuania.
“Palizija was under extreme duress in that there was a threat over his life from people who had the power, the intention, the capability and the form to carry it out”.
“He was left with little alternative because his life was in danger,” Mr Kelly added.
“This is a notorious and violent drug gang using vulnerable young men to further their vile aims and their profiteering. This man was a pawn in that system. All he wanted to do was return home to his family and further his studies Judge Moran heard”.
Accepting the guilty plea, Judge Carroll Moran imposed a three year prison sentence, backdated to March 5.
