Donegal man jailed for drugs offences at the Crown Court in Derry

Two men, one from Derry and the other from Donegal, who were caught in a pro-active police investigation into the activities of drugs gangs in the North-West have both been jailed at the Crown Court in Derry.

Jonathan Glenn, 41, from Shipquay Street was jailed for 40 months and Stephen George Duffy, 52, a father of three from Rusky in Convoy was jailed for, 32 months.

Both men, who had previous clear records, pleaded guilty to a number of drugs offences after the PSNI intercepted packages of cannabis, posted in Scotland and concealed in Tayto onion ring boxes. The defendants, who are half brothers, committed the offences on various dates over a 12-month period starting in September 2021.

In September 2022 the PSNI had already recovered almost nine kilos of cannabis following two seizures. Their investigations led them to a car park outside licenced premises on the Victoria Road near Strabane which they believed was the postal interception address for more drugs.

On September 9, 2022, a van containing the two defendants pulled into the car park and observing police officers approached the vehicle. Both Glenn and Duffy appeared to be nervous and when they were searched under the Misuse Of Drugs Act the police recovered €4,730 and £510. The police also found two mobile 'phones and when they were triaged they were found to contain evidence of the defendants' involvement in the illegal drugs trade.

Prosecution barrister Michael McAleer told Judge Neil Rafferty K.C. that the police believed the two defendants worked in tandem and that Glenn was behind the acquiring of the drugs and responsible for selling them on. Duffy admitted to storing the drugs and money for Glenn.

"Glenn told the police that he'd travelled to Scotland and sent the contraband back via Parcel Force. He said he had done this on a regular basis. Glenn made the case he was paid in cash to send and collect the parcels containing the drugs.

"Duffy said he would transport Glenn to collect various items and money in relation to criminality. He told the police he had on occasion handled large amount of cash belonging to Glenn", the prosecutor said.

"The defendant Glenn was the individual behind acquiring the drugs and was responsible for re-selling them. The defendant Duffy was fully aware of the drug activity on the part of his co-accused Glenn. Duffy stored items and money for Glenn and he was also aware of drug debts owed by others to Glenn", Mr. McAleer said.

Judge Rafferty said when both men were caught by the police outside the licenced premises "their explanation did not hold water".

He said while a jail sentence turned the lives of the defendants' family members upside down, victims of crime and broader society had to be protected from the illegal activities of those involved in drugs criminality.