Thousands of tablets were found after a postal package addressed to woman in Antrim town was intercepted by Border Force
Thousands of tablets were uncovered after a postal package addressed to woman in Antrim town was intercepted by Border Force.
She admitted attempting to possess the Class A drug tapentadol and Class C zopiclone through the post.
Magda Mielik (47), from the Illustrious Court area of Antrim town, also admitted possession of tapentadol.
The defendant appeared at Antrim Magstrates Court, sitting in Ballymena, on Tuesday.
A prosecutor said that on March 25 this year Border Force intercepted a parcel at Royal Mail which was addressed to the defendant at her address. It was opened and contained 2,380 zopiclone tablets and 500 tapentadol.
Following a search of her home 2,500 pregabalin, 1,000 zopiclone and 3 tapentadol were discovered, a prosecutor said.
The prosecutor said the street price of a tablet was £1 but when bought in bulk the cost would be 40-60 pence. She said the tablets in the house were worth "between £1,600 and £2,400".
When interviewed, the defendant said the tablets were for her personal use saying "in her eyes they weren't drugs but were essential medication for her ailments" and were medications "she couldn't obtain from her doctor".
The defendant said she obtained the tablets by paying a "friend" £200 and that person then arranged for the parcel to go to the defendant's address. The prosecutor said there was no evidence the defendant was supplying the tablets.
A defence barrister said the defendant had no record and a pre-sentence report was "positive".
District Judge Nigel Broderick said: "The amount of tablets and value is a matter of concern to the court. You have no previous convictions and there is no evidence of you supplying these drugs.
"Had there been evidence of supply then you could easily have faced a custodial sentence."
The defendant was given 150 hours of Community Service.