Surveillance led gardaí to 'low level mule' as she travelled to collect drugs in Co Laois
A 32-year-old woman was arrested after being caught transporting over three kilos of cocaine from Portlaoise to Cork. The defendant, described as a 'low-level mule' struggling with addiction, expressed remorse and is currently awaiting sentencing.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing issue of drug trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals by criminal networks.
The accused told gardaí she had hoped to be paid a bit more for the second delivery but did not know how much cocaine she was transporting. Picture: Larry Cummins.
Liam Heylin Confidential information prompted gardaí to mount surveillance to catch a young woman who drove from Cork to Portlaoise to pick up a €243,000 stash of cocaine and when they stopped her she was ‘panicky, nervous and upset’.
Detective Garda Eoin O’Toole gave this evidence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court today, stating that 32-year-old Ellen Tobin was observed driving her car on the M8 motorway at Riverstown, Glanmire, in August 2025, and she was very anxious when approached by gardaí.
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