small amount of drugs at airport

antiparos

A foolish Spanish friend of mine came to Ireland the other day with a gram of hash and a gram of cocaine. He was caught in the airport with it, after passport control there was a snifer dog and it came up to him. Anyway as he does not live here he gave them my address because they said he will be summoned to court. Because he is not Irish and has now gone back to Spain will he be summoned to court??? He is afraid that if he is summoned to court he will go to jail. But surely not for such a small amount. he said that he will not come back to ireland because he is worried he will be sent to jail. He has no previous convictions or anything like that. He is just stupid. what will happen if he does notgo to court?

Our man in Havana

He may be fined in his absence or the judge may issue a warrant for his arrest.

I agree there is very little chance of jail if he comes back and faces the music.

BrianD

He should retain legal advice himself.

One has to wonder how anybody would be so stupid to bring drugs across and international border. There should be a penalty for that alone.

However, bringing any amount of drugs across an international border is the problem and it's treated seriously.

He needs sound legal advice. If he decides to "evade justice" it may become a bigger problem for him.

detective

BrianD wrote: »

One has to wonder how anybody would be so stupid to bring drugs across and international border. There should be a penalty for that alone.

Em, there is.

antiparos

so there is a possibilty of a jail sentence? Well i highly doubt he will return if that is a possibility.

Our man in Havana

A very very small chance.

okioffice84

Slightly off topic...but just a general comment. I have lots of Spanish friends and have noticed that many of them are incredibly blasé about having small amounts of drugs (of the type described by the OP) in their possession while going through Dublin airport. This is the first time I've heard of anyone being pulled on it.

Break all ties

antiparos wrote: »

so there is a possibilty of a jail sentence? Well i highly doubt he will return if that is a possibility.

An European Arrest Warrant may be issued for his arrest in Spain.

antiparos

With regard to the summons is that just a letter that goes in my post box and then I forward it to his address in Spain?? Wondering why they are posting the letter to my house and not his address in Spain. He does not live here nor did he tell them he lived there.

milehip1

Break all ties wrote: »

An European Arrest Warrant may be issued for his arrest in Spain.

for such a small amount? highly unlikely I'd say.

Our man in Havana

They have been issued for the theft of a chicken. I kid you not.

charlemont

okioffice84 wrote: »

Slightly off topic...but just a general comment. I have lots of Spanish friends and have noticed that many of them are incredibly blasé about having small amounts of drugs (of the type described by the OP) in their possession while going through Dublin airport. This is the first time I've heard of anyone being pulled on it.

The Spaniards have a liberal attitude to small amounts of drugs, Its no big deal there..

milehip1

antiparos wrote: »

With regard to the summons is that just a letter that goes in my post box and then I forward it to his address in Spain?? Wondering why they are posting the letter to my house and not his address in Spain. He does not live here nor did he tell them he lived there.

not sure I understand your 1st question, do you mean that the summons has to be signed by the person being procuseted?

As for sending it to your address I'd say it because it was in Ireland the offence committed.

antiparos

I am not sure what exactly a summons is. Is it just a letter, or does someone deliver it to my house and then you sign it to say you received it? And if you have to sign it surely it should be my Spanish friend that has to sign it and not me. Imagine if he had stayed at a hotel, where would they send the summons? I just find it odd that they are sending address.

Our man in Havana

He really had no business giving your address. They should have detained him for court or immediately deported him back to Spain.

A summons is a command to attend court to answer charges. Yes, it can be sent to your house and no one need sign for it.

johnnyskeleton

milehip1 wrote: »

for such a small amount? highly unlikely I'd say.

Apparently there have been EAWs for the theft of a bicycle and a chicken, so it is possible.

antiparos

Our man in Havana wrote: »

He really had no business giving your address. They should have detained him for court or immediately deported him back to Spain.

The police officer asked him where he was staying, why he was here etc. So he gave them my name, address and phone number. The police requested it and he complied.

Our man in Havana

I guess you will be getting the summons so.

Peregrinus

It's possible but very unlikely that he would face a jail sentence for these amounts.

He doesn't avoid the theoretical possiblity by remaining in Spain, ignoring the summons, etc. It's possible but again very unlikely that the Irish authorities would issue an EAW, which they could (theoretically) seek to enforce in Spain, and which in any event would cause him problems crossing any international border.

If he is really that worried by very small risks, then the only way he can lay these risks to rest is by facing up to this matter, and dealing with the charges now.

Having said that, if he chooses to ignore the matter, then the risk of arrest/prison really is pretty theoretical.

BrianD

detective wrote: »

Em, there is.

I meant a penalty for the stupidity bit!! Unless your full time commercial drugs smuggler.