Man charged with drugs offences in Carlow is back in Latvia
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A 22-YEAR-OLD Latvian man who was observed discarding a bag of cannabis and was found with quantities of drugs in a vehicle has received a suspended sentence at Carlow District Court. Mr Kristers Butovskis, whose last address in Ireland was 52 Browneshill Rise, Browneshill Road, Carlow, appeared before Judge Geraldine Carthy charged with possession of controlled drugs and possession of controlled drugs for unlawful sale or supply, contrary to the .
The court heard that on 8 May 2025 at 4.15pm, Detective Garda John Moulton observed a male walking suspiciously from a known suspect’s car. He proceeded to discard a bag containing cannabis.
The vehicle was then searched and in the front passenger seat 15 bags of cannabis and one bag of cocaine were found. The suspect was arrested at the scene. The cannabis was valued at €400, and the cocaine at €70.
In a separate incident on 5 March 2025 at 9.20pm, Garda Shane Ryan searched the accused and found a small amount of cannabis valued at €50 in his possession.
The court was told that Mr Butovskis had six previous convictions, all for road traffic offences, with the most recent dating to April of this year.
A solicitor for the defendant said that the accused had since returned to Latvia.
He said his client had been mixing with the wrong people and was not a drug addict, nor did he have a drug problem.
Judge Carthy convicted the defendant of possession of cocaine for sale and supply, sentencing him to nine months in jail, suspended for 12 months. She said that in respect of all other matters, she would convict and take all charges into consideration.
