DUBLIN, Ireland: A Division One college basketball player from Nevada received a three-and-a-half-year jail sentence for bringing just over 381,000 euros worth of cannabis into Ireland to help out a friend.

Kristaps Kambala (22) of Lovelady Court, Henderson, Nevada pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having the drugs for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on June 23, 2025.

Prosecutor Aideen Collard told the court that Kambala was stopped at Dublin Airport after arriving from Bangkok. She said officials became suspicious of his behavior, so his luggage was scanned using an X-ray machine.

The suitcase was locked, and since Kambala said he did not have the key, officers had to cut the lock open with bolt cutters. Inside, they found 38 vacuum-sealed bags. Tests later showed the bags contained 19 kilograms of cannabis, with an estimated value of 381,000 euros.

Kambala admitted that the luggage belonged to him, but he said someone else had packed it. He told authorities that he was supposed to meet a person at the airport to hand over the drugs.

The court heard that he appeared quite naïve about his involvement and had no prior criminal convictions.

Defence lawyer Mark Lynam said Kambala is one of the top college athletes in the United States and has received a college scholarship. He is a Division One basketball player and is among the top one percent of players in the country.

Lynam also said Kambala is academically talented and could have chosen almost any college in the United States.

"It appears he was easily influenced by someone else," Lynam said. He explained that Kambala had been on holiday in Thailand with someone he considered a brother, someone he had grown up with. That person convinced him to carry the cannabis.

Kambala told gardaí that he did not know the weight of the drugs or the serious consequences of carrying them.

Lynam said many people wanted to provide character references for Kambala. He submitted them to the court, but removed 20 because there were too many for the judge to review. A probation report and a report from the prison governor were also given to the court.

The court heard that Kambala was born in Spain. His father is originally from Latvia and was a seven-foot-tall professional basketball player, which meant the family travelled frequently.

Lynam said that although his client is only 6 feet tall, he still reached a high level in basketball through determination, hard work, and skill. He added that Kambala's mother, who attended court to support him, has been a major influence in his life.

The lawyer argued that because of his sheltered life focused on studies and sports, Kambala was easily tricked into becoming involved in the crime.

"He has lost everything he worked for," Lynam told the court. "He will have to start again, but he has support and the ability to rebuild his life."

Lynam also said Kambala was fortunate not to have been caught with the drugs in Thailand. He explained that Kambala had naively believed that if he were caught in Ireland, he would only receive a minor punishment.

He added that Kambala did not make any money from the crime and did not need to do it. According to the lawyer, he only agreed because he thought he was helping someone.