Dublin man allegedly caught with €300k of cocaine and ecstasy under his bed in Garda raid, court hears

A DUBLIN man was caught with €300,000 worth of cocaine and ecstasy under his bed when gardai raided his home, it is alleged.

The drugs were found in a follow-up search after an earlier separate but “linked” seizure of cocaine found in a “sophisticated” hidden compartment in another man’s car, a court heard.

Both men were granted bail when they appeared in Dublin District Court on drugs charges.

Christopher McKenna (31) and Edvinas Liskauskas (28) were remanded in custody with consent to bail, for DPP directions.

The accused were both charged with possession of drugs with intent to sell or supply on January 21.

Garda Pierce O’Dwyer said Mr Liskauskas’s home at Charlestown Green, St Margaret’s Road, Finglas was searched under warrant and €3,000 worth of cocaine was found inside, along with drug paraphernalia including weighing scales and bags.

Gardai also searched his personal vehicle which was parked outside and found an “elaborate hydraulic compartment” with a further €32,000 worth of cocaine concealed inside it, as well as €17,000 in cash wrapped in clingfilm.

It was alleged Mr Liskauskas was holding all items on behalf of a third party.

Gda O’Dwyer said it was feared the accused would flee the country if bailed. His mother was in Lithuania and he booked a return flight there

Crime Wrap for January 23 

Applying for bail, Mr Liskauskas’ barrister Paddy Flynn said his client told gardai he had been under duress and was threatened. Gda O’Dwyer said the accused had said he “became involved due to a gambling debt” but had a “highly sophisticated hydraulic compartment” in his vehicle.

Mr Flynn said Mr Liskauskas had been in Ireland for 20 years and had only planned to go to Lithuania for his mother’s birthday.

He lived here with his partner and two stepchildren and worked as a scaffolder.

The court heard Mr McKenna’s case was “linked” though he was not a co-accused. Gardai carried out a follow-up search at his home at Grangemore Crescent, Donaghmede later that day.

Objecting to bail, Garda Kevin Fenton said Mr McKenna was in his attic bedroom and when gardai entered, he identified that there were drugs under his bed. Gardai recovered €266,000 worth of cocaine and €34,000 worth of ecstasy in a black sports bag under the bed.

It was alleged he stated that he was holding the drugs for someone for “small financial gain.”. Gda Fenton said he believed the accused would leave the country if bailed.

Applying for bail, Mr McKenna’s barrister Luke O’Higgins said the garda belief that the accused would evade justice was based on “no evidence.” Mr McKenna had a supportive family and was living with his parents, he said.

Judge Treasa Kelly said the accused were presumed innocent and granted conditional bail. She set Mr Liskauskas’s bail at €8,000, of which €3,000 is to be lodged in cash. Mr McKenna was granted €10,000 bail with half to be lodged in cash.