South African woman given six years for cannabis possession
A South African mother of three who was caught handing over a suitcase of cannabis valued at over €170,000 to another woman shortly after arriving in the country has been given a six-year sentence.
Elizabeth Claassen (aged 49) was a "middle-aged married mother" employed by her husbands family up to four years ago when her marriage broke down and she fell into financial difficulties after being made redundant.
Claassen, of 7th Avenue, Roodeport, Johannesburg, pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs at Talbot Street on November 15, 2007.
Judge Katherine Delahunt told Claassen: "You are not at the top of the ladder but without you this heinous trade could not continue and flourish." She noted Claassen intended to leave Ireland on her release.
Judge Delahunt imposed a six-year sentence and suspended the final year on strict conditions.
Detective Garda Jason Crotty told Mr Tony McGillicuddy BL, prosecuting, that gardaí acting on confidential information observed her as she arrived at Dublin Airport from South Africa via Frankfurt.
Claassen bought a SIM card at an airport shop and then took a taxi to the city centre with a suitcase where she met another woman across the road from the GPO. Gardaí stopped and searched her at that point.
Det. Garda Crotty said 19kg of cannabis with a street value of €171,000 was found in the suitcase.
Claassen, who has no previous convictions, told gardaí she was in "a financial bind" and had been offered 20,000 South African Rand (approximately €2,000) to transport the drugs to Ireland.
Defence counsel, Mr Erwan Mill-Arden SC, said Claassen had been approached by people who were aware of her difficulties and once they made the offer to her she felt she could not back out.
He said she was given money to buy clothes "to look respectable" before the flight and a small sum for travel expenses. On arrival in Dublin she was informed where to go by a person who made contract with her.
Mr Mill-Arden said she was "a pillar of decent society" working for her in-law’s family business in South Africa up to four years ago when her husband left her. She began having difficulties paying her bills.
He said she was originally from the United Kingdom and her family had emigrated to South Africa when she was 12. He said Claassen intended to leave the country on her release and live in England.
