Pair jailed for helping move €350k in cocaine

Two men have been jailed for six years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following their admission of involvement in transporting cocaine valued at €350,000. Arvydas Steponkus, aged 45, of Clondalkin, Dublin and Thomas O'Boyle, aged 33, of Sligo pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply on Cruiserath Road, Blanchardstown on 24 February 2018. Steponkus handed over €280,000 worth of cocaine to O'Boyle, with a further €70,000 discovered in a hidden compartment of the Ford Mondeo Steponkus was operating. Gardaí intervened following surveillance after a tip-off revealed the exchange. Judge Martin Nolan noted both men transported the drugs for payment and were aware of their involvement, acknowledging their co-operation and useful admissions to investigating gardaí. O'Boyle has 29 previous convictions including a 2008 drug offence, whilst Steponkus has no prior convictions.