Smuggler Claims He Confused Marijuana with Rare Bird Nests
A 35-year-old smuggler, Low Kim Sui, claims he mistook marijuana for rare bird nests, but has admitted guilt in transporting drugs across the border.
Malaysians Caught with Cannabis Worth Over 40 Million Rubles
On June 2, Irish customs officers apprehended Malaysians Sui and 45-year-old Chong Chong Nen at Dublin Airport. The two men, who appeared to have arrived from Malaysia, were found with 21 kilograms of marijuana valued at €420,000 (about 40.6 million rubles). Authorities estimated the price of one gram of marijuana at 1,933 rubles. The suspects were taken to a police station, provided with translators and lawyers, but refused to answer law enforcement questions.
Court Appearance and Potential Sentencing
Last Monday, Sui and Nen appeared in court on charges of smuggling and possession of cannabis. Due to the large quantity of marijuana seized, they each face up to 10 years in prison. Sui’s attorney, Tracy Horan, stated that her client is prepared to plead guilty to the charges in order to receive a verdict as soon as possible. According to her, Sui has decided to cooperate with the investigation and said he was transporting marijuana, believing it to be rare bird nests. Chong has not yet confessed to drug smuggling. Both men are scheduled to appear in court again on June 5.
Ireland Delays Cannabis Legalization Bill
In January 2024, the Irish government postponed consideration of a bill to legalize marijuana possession for nine months, reportedly to allow a special committee more time to review the legislation. Had the bill been passed on time, the Malaysians might have avoided prosecution for marijuana possession.
Ryan McHale, a representative of Crainn, an organization advocating for drug policy reform in Ireland, explained the delay: “The government is aware of the huge support for the legalization bill and therefore is not openly opposing it, unlike in 2013 when a previous attempt to liberalize cannabis laws was made. While authorities debate the political effectiveness of reform, hundreds of people will be punished for marijuana possession.”
Legalization in the UK Remains Unpopular
Meanwhile, in neighboring Great Britain, full legalization of recreational cannabis—including regulated sales—still lacks broad support. Last year, 37% of the population favored keeping current laws unchanged, 28% supported legalization, and 25% wanted to decriminalize possession only.