Lengthy prison sentence for English man caught transporting cannabis through Dublin Airport

A man who was caught with over half a million euro worth of cannabis at Dublin Airport has been sentenced to four and-a-half years' imprisonment.

Brandon Highfield, aged 23, with an address in Wolverhampton in the UK, was in transit through the State when sniffer dogs indicated the presence of drugs in his luggage.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Highfield had arrived in Dublin from New York and was waiting to catch a connecting flight to Manchester when he was detected.

He pleaded guilty to importing almost 27kgs of cannabis, valued at €538,760, and possessing the drugs for sale or supply on November 11, 2023, at Terminal 2 in Dublin Airport.

Passing sentence this Wednesday, Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Highfield had been transporting the drugs for third parties and that “some level of coercion” had been applied.

Judge Nolan noted that Highfield was “slightly vulnerable”, had no record of conviction and was unlikely to reoffend.

“He's a young man who made a very bad judgement,” he said as he imposed a four-and-a-half year sentence which was backdated to last November.

Garda Anthony Boyle told Emmet Nolan BL, prosecuting, that Highfield had been due to depart on his flight for Manchester when drug dogs indicated something untoward in his two large suitcases.

He was arrested and told gardaí he had a debt and had been prevailed upon by others to transport these drugs with a view to discharging part of the debt. 

Highfield is not a man of any significant assets or wealth, the court heard. 

Garnett Orange SC, defending Highfield, said his client had absolutely no connection with this State and had no intention of staying here. 

Garda Boyle agreed with counsel that there was a code on both suitcases and that Highfield was unable to open it as someone else had sealed the bags.

The court heard that Highfield was instructed to travel from the UK to New York where he had spent two days, mainly in the vicinity of Times Square.

Mr Orange says there was a lack of detail surrounding the debt owed by his client, who had been stabbed by somebody from a particular group and was then under the impression that he owed a debt.

Garda Boyle agreed that Highfield came across as a “slightly vulnerable” person who led a very quiet life. 

“He lives at home with his mother and spent his time playing Xbox,” counsel said.

The court heard that Highfield's mother and two sisters were present in court and had expressed genuine worry and concern for him.

He pleaded very early and was sent forward to the Circuit Court on signed pleas from the district court.

Highfield is doing well in custody and cooperated from the moment he was spoken to by customs officials, the court heard.

Judge Nolan acknowledged that Highfield's stay in prison will be lonely for him as a foreign national, and that he will receive little or no visits.