Sunday World reported that Jonathan Diggins, a US citizen taught by First Lady Jill Biden, was jailed for three and a half years after being caught with €330,000 worth of ketamine at Dublin Airport.
Jonathan Diggins, 47, from San Francisco, USA, was apprehended at Dublin Airport after a large quantity of ketamine was found in his suitcase.
Diggins had been traveling from Brussels to San Francisco via Dublin in October when his suitcase missed the connecting flight.
US clearance officers in Dublin Airport discovered a false bottom in the suitcase containing seven packs of ketamine valued at €330,000. The drugs were hidden in a sophisticated manner, making their detection a notable success for airport security.
Diggins returned to Ireland several weeks later to look for his lost suitcase. Upon his arrival at Dublin Airport, the authorities, who had been alerted to his return, promptly arrested him.
Diggins pleaded guilty to one count of importing drugs at Dublin Airport on November 6, 2023. The court heard that Diggins had no previous convictions, which was taken into consideration during sentencing.
Judge Orla Crowe, who presided over the case, sentenced Diggins to three and a half years in prison. The sentence was backdated to November 28, when Diggins was initially taken into custody.
Judge Crowe emphasized the seriousness of the crime, stating, “The importation of drugs is a significant and serious matter.” She further remarked that Diggins had involved himself in an activity that was “nefarious in nature.”
During the trial, the defense highlighted several extenuating circumstances, portraying Diggins as a good man and dedicated father who struggled with maintaining family connections across the vast distance between Ireland and the USA, exacerbated by the time zone differences.
Diggins, a native of Wilmington, Delaware, is a father to two children. He was unable to attend his eldest child's high school graduation due to being in custody, a detail that the court took into account when deciding his sentence.
James Dwyer, Diggins' defense attorney, contended that Diggins never planned to import drugs into Ireland, suggesting that his return to Ireland was due to either a lack of knowledge or poor judgment.
Jonathan Diggins was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for attempting to retrieve a suitcase containing €330,000 worth of ketamine. The case highlighted the importance of airport security measures and the serious consequences of drug importation.
The involvement of US First Lady Jill Biden as a former teacher of Diggins added an unexpected dimension to the story. Judge Orla Crowe’s comments underscored the court’s stance on drug-related offenses, emphasizing that such activities will be met with strict legal repercussions. Diggins’ personal circumstances and testimonials played a role in shaping the final sentence.
