Latest news with #DeSouza
Sunday World
17 hours ago
- Sunday World
Drug mule visiting Ireland as he was ‘big fan of Conor McGregor' jailed for importing cocaine
Anthony Matheus Rosas De Souza (29) also told custom officials when he was stopped at Dublin Airport that he had heard Irish beer was good A drugs mule who claimed he was visiting Ireland because he was a big fan of Conor McGregor and he liked the look of Irish pubs in the movies has been jailed for importing cocaine. Anthony Matheus Rosas De Souza (29) also told custom officials when he was stopped at Dublin Airport that he had heard Irish beer was good and that he was planning to meet up with a woman he had connected with on Tinder. He later admitted that he had been forced to transport the drugs from Brazil because he owed money to a loan shark. His mother was threatened and he was told that if he brought the suitcase into Ireland his debt would be written off. De Souza, who is originally from the Amazon region of Brazil, has been on remand in custody since his arrest at the airport. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importing cocaine at Terminal One, Dublin Airport on November 1, 2024. He has no previous convictions. Garda Andrew Fay told Simon Donagh BL, prosecuting, that the suitcase was X-rayed after De Souza was spotted acting evasively and suspiciously. Six packages of cocaine, weighing 2.88 kilogrammes and with an estimated street value of €201,600 were found concealed in the lining of the luggage. Gda Fay agreed with Aisling Ginger-Quinn BL, defending, that her client said he owed money to loan sharks and was approached by others who told him if he did this favour 'his debt would be forgiven'. He was provided with the flight but got no further payment for bringing the drugs to Dublin. Gda Fay accepted that De Souza was acting as a drugs mule. Judge Orla Crowe accepted that De Souza was deliberately acting as a drug mule and brought drugs into this country. She said the courts see 'day in and day out, the wreckage, chaos and havoc' caused by the drug trade in this country and noted it was people like De Souza playing a 'key component' in the trading of drugs that facilitate this. She acknowledged that De Souza will be serving a sentence away from his 'supportive family' before she set a headline sentence of four years and six months. Judge Crowe imposed a sentence of three years which she backdated to when De Souza first went into custody last November. Dublin Airport Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 21st
Sunday World
21 hours ago
- Sunday World
Drug mule who was ‘big fan of Conor McGregor' jailed for importing cocaine into Ireland
Anthony Matheus Rosas De Souza (29) also told custom officials when he was stopped at Dublin Airport that he had heard Irish beer was good A drugs mule who claimed he was visiting Ireland because he was a big fan of Conor McGregor and he liked the look of Irish pubs in the movies has been jailed for importing cocaine. Anthony Matheus Rosas De Souza (29) also told custom officials when he was stopped at Dublin Airport that he had heard Irish beer was good and that he was planning to meet up with a woman he had connected with on Tinder. He later admitted that he had been forced to transport the drugs from Brazil because he owed money to a loan shark. His mother was threatened and he was told that if he brought the suitcase into Ireland his debt would be written off. De Souza, who is originally from the Amazon region of Brazil, has been on remand in custody since his arrest at the airport. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importing cocaine at Terminal One, Dublin Airport on November 1, 2024. He has no previous convictions. Garda Andrew Fay told Simon Donagh BL, prosecuting, that the suitcase was X-rayed after De Souza was spotted acting evasively and suspiciously. Six packages of cocaine, weighing 2.88 kilogrammes and with an estimated street value of €201,600 were found concealed in the lining of the luggage. Gda Fay agreed with Aisling Ginger-Quinn BL, defending, that her client said he owed money to loan sharks and was approached by others who told him if he did this favour 'his debt would be forgiven'. He was provided with the flight but got no further payment for bringing the drugs to Dublin. Gda Fay accepted that De Souza was acting as a drugs mule. Judge Orla Crowe accepted that De Souza was deliberately acting as a drug mule and brought drugs into this country. She said the courts see 'day in and day out, the wreckage, chaos and havoc' caused by the drug trade in this country and noted it was people like De Souza playing a 'key component' in the trading of drugs that facilitate this. She acknowledged that De Souza will be serving a sentence away from his 'supportive family' before she set a headline sentence of four years and six months. Judge Crowe imposed a sentence of three years which she backdated to when De Souza first went into custody last November. Dublin Airport Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 21st
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Jockey who ‘practically jumped off' hot favourite slapped with 18 month ban
Lemos De Souza hit the deck shorly after the stalls opened A jockey who 'practically jumped off' a hot favourite right at the start of a race has been slapped with an 18 month suspension. Brazilian rider Lemos 'Lai Lai' De Souza, 33, is one of the leading riders in Malaysia with 32 wins in 2025, and has ridden 300 winners in the region. He was aboard Pacific Power in the ninth race at Selangor Turf Club on July 6 for the region's champion trainer Jason Ong. The two-year-old had finished placed in his three previous starts. READ MORE: TV legend who famously beat King Charles in charity race ends 60-year career on Tuesday READ MORE: Top Flat jockey on track for eighth century of winners takes up lucrative Hong Kong offer He went off favourite for the 7f race but punters learned their fate as soon as the starting gates opened when De Souza immediately fell off and hit the ground. Drawn in barrier one, on the inside, he appeared to throw himself to his left as he came off. Race commentator Devon Pretorius said: 'Lai Lai De Souza has come off. Not too sure what happened there, but he's come straight off the horse straight from the start, so Pacific Power is riderless and Lai Lai De Souza is down at the start.' De Souza managed to get back on his feet and walk to an ambulance and once the race was completed Pretorius went back to have another look at the incident. Content cannot be displayed without consent 'A quick look at the replay here,' he said. 'Pacific Power jumps. I'm not too sure if the saddle slipped and then he pretty much knew his fate about 10 metres out of the starting and just practically jumped off the horse as he knew he wasn't going to get his foot back in the irons on his right side.' Footage of the incident has had thousands of views on social media with many observers coming to their own conclusions. The stewards report noted: 'Jockey was dislodged from his horse shortly after the start. A review into this incident will be held at a date to be fixed.' Lemos De Souza: received 18 month ban However De Souza, who gave up his remaining rides, left the country to get medical attention in Singapore. He returned to action at the track on Sunday where he had ten mounts, including for the owner and trainer of Pacific Power, scoring on Pacific Warrior. The jockey appeared a stewards panel and members of the Selangor Turf Club's committee on Monday where he was found guilty of 'failing to ride his horse to the satisfaction of the stewards', according to The Straight. De Souza pleaded not guilty but the panel handed an 18 month suspension until January 21 2027, fined him £8,800 and also made an order that he would not be eligible for a licence until 12 months after he has completed the sentence.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Jockey who fled country after ‘practically jumping off' horse hit with massive 18-month ban and fine
A JOCKEY who fled the country after 'practically jumping off' a horse has been hit with a massive 18-month ban and fine. Footage of Brazilian rider Lemos 'Lai Lai' De Souza's spill from favourite Pacific Power gained worldwide notoriety. Advertisement 4 Jockey Lemos De Souza broke from favourite Pacific Power in stall one 4 But he immediately became unbalanced 4 After a matter of seconds the jockey had been dislodged 4 He ended up in a crumpled heap on the floor as the horse ran on riderless Pacific Power was favourite for a race at Selangor racecourse in Malaysia but drifted just before the off. De Souza was seen appearing to bounce in the saddle before theatrically falling off the horse seconds after the gates opened. Commentator Devon Pretorius said at the time: "He practically jumped off the horse." Stewards attempted to open an urgent investigation into the incident, which occurred earlier this month. Advertisement But matters were complicated after it emerged De Souza had fled the country for Singapore so he could receive medical treatment. The jockey was said to have returned a few days later - giving stewards the chance to probe him. And, following the completion of the investigation, they decided to ban De Souza for 18 months and hand him a £7,500 fine. In another blow, the jockey is not allowed to reapply for his licence until a further 12 months after his ban ends. Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing De Souza, who had pleaded not guilty, was deemed to have 'failed to ride his horse to the satisfaction of the stewards'. He could have been disqualified for life but stewards took into account his previous good record. Footage of De Souza's fall was viewed hundreds of thousands of times online. And many agreed with Pretorious' description of the incident. Advertisement He said: "A look at the replay here… Pacific Power jumps and Lai Lai - I'm not too sure if the saddle slipped. "Then he pretty much knew his fate about ten metres out of the starting stalls and then practically jumped off the horse as he knew he wasn't going to get his foot back in his irons on his right side." This is the second such incident to rock racing in recent months. An investigation is still ongoing into Irish jockey Advertisement While fellow jockey Alvinio Roy was FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Jockey who fled country after ‘practically jumping off' horse hit with massive 18-month ban and fine
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A JOCKEY who fled the country after 'practically jumping off' a horse has been hit with a massive 18-month ban and fine. Footage of Brazilian rider Lemos 'Lai Lai' De Souza's spill from favourite Pacific Power gained worldwide notoriety. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Jockey Lemos De Souza broke from favourite Pacific Power in stall one 4 But he immediately became unbalanced 4 After a matter of seconds the jockey had been dislodged 4 He ended up in a crumpled heap on the floor as the horse ran on riderless Pacific Power was favourite for a race at Selangor racecourse in Malaysia but drifted just before the off. De Souza was seen appearing to bounce in the saddle before theatrically falling off the horse seconds after the gates opened. Commentator Devon Pretorius said at the time: "He practically jumped off the horse." Stewards attempted to open an urgent investigation into the incident, which occurred earlier this month. But matters were complicated after it emerged De Souza had fled the country for Singapore so he could receive medical treatment. The jockey was said to have returned a few days later - giving stewards the chance to probe him. And, following the completion of the investigation, they decided to ban De Souza for 18 months and hand him a £7,500 fine. In another blow, the jockey is not allowed to reapply for his licence until a further 12 months after his ban ends. De Souza, who had pleaded not guilty, was deemed to have 'failed to ride his horse to the satisfaction of the stewards'. He could have been disqualified for life but stewards took into account his previous good record. Footage of De Souza's fall was viewed hundreds of thousands of times online. And many agreed with Pretorious' description of the incident. He said: "A look at the replay here… Pacific Power jumps and Lai Lai - I'm not too sure if the saddle slipped. "Then he pretty much knew his fate about ten metres out of the starting stalls and then practically jumped off the horse as he knew he wasn't going to get his foot back in his irons on his right side." This is the second such incident to rock racing in recent months. An investigation is still ongoing into Irish jockey Philip Byrnes' dramatic fall from Redwood Queen at Wexford in May. While fellow jockey Alvinio Roy was banned for five years after this incident in Mauritius last year. FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
