Cops believe bags contained heroin deals

A Lithuanian man has been fined €300 for swallowing two small bags, believed to contain heroin deals, when Gardai went to search him at a known heroin dealing site.

Alberta Navickas (25), 7 Snipe Lawn, Newcastle, appeared in custody before Galway District Court having been arrested in Waterford on foot of a bench warrant issued by the court in May after he failed to appear.

Navickas pleaded guilty to obstructing Gardai Noel McNulty at Upper Newcastle on April 30 last, by chewing, swallowing and refusing to spit out a bag, which Garda McNulty believed to contain heroin.

He also pleaded guilty to a similar obstruction charge which occurred during a drugs search at the same location three days later.

Inspector Kevin Gately said Gardai observed a known heroin user in the area on both dates and they approached the accused who placed two small plastic bags in his mouth and proceeded to chew them.

He was directed to spit them out, but he refused and swallowed then instead.

Defence solicitor, Sean Acton, said his client had come to Ireland three months ago and was sleeping on a couch in a house with his fellow countrymen.

He moved to Waterford when they moved because he had no money.

Mr Acton said his client had started taking heroin since coming to Ireland but he did not appear to be addicted to the drug as he had been in custody for five days and had not been sick.

Hearing the accused had pleaded straight away and had no previous convictions, Judge Timothy Lucey fined him €150 on each charge.