Woman accused of being at centre of drugs gang in NI court

A woman who allegedly played an “exalted, key trusted, organisational role” in an international organised crime gang appeared in court today charged with multiple drug offences.

Appearing in the dock of Newtownards Magistrates Court alongside an interpreter, Yahan Wang (24) spoke only to confirm that she understood the seven charges against her.

Ms Wang, a student at Coventry University who is originally from China but has an address at Southside Central Walk in Birmingham, faces two counts of importing cannabis, conspiring to supply cannabis, possessing the class B drug with intent to supply on various dates between January 1st and March 24th this year.

She faces three further money laundering offences of transferring, converting and possessing criminal property, namely cash, on dates between February 13th, 2012 and March 10th this year.

A detective constable told the court she knew the facts surrounding the charges and that she believed she would connect Ms Wang to the charges.

The officer said police believe that despite being only 24, Ms Wang “sits at a high level within this organised crime gang and she plays a key trusted, organisational role within the group.

"It is the police case that she facilitated the importation of multiple packages of cannabis into Northern Ireland, " claimed the officer. She said Ms Wang travelled regularly between the UK, Italy and China and "appears to have access to large sums of cash".

The officer revealed that despite being an unemployed student, a total of £75,000 had gone through Ms Wang’s three bank accounts in the space of a year.

Mr Wang was arrested by West Midlands police on Wednesday before being brought to Northern Ireland for questioning.

During police interviews she “admitted to viewing, renting and arranging the rental of various properties in NI which are all relevant to the investigation”, said the detective.

One of those houses was at Dunleath Drive in Ballywalter where £350,000 of herbal cannabis was uncovered. The detective claimed that other houses allegedly associated with Mr Wang were either “mail drop addresses or distribution centres.”

Ms Wang is the ninth person to appear in court in Northern Ireland charged with the multi- million pound operation.

Seven Chinese men have appeared in Ards court and a Vietnamese man has appeared in Newry Court. Eight other people have been charged by police in Italy after three cannabis factories with plants valued in excess of £4 million were discovered.

The detective revealed that the courier firm used to transport packages of suspected cannabis from Italy to the address in Ballywalter had trawled through their records and the PSNI estimate the gang successfully posted 78 packages in total. Previous courts have heard that each package weighed 10kg.

District Judge Prytherch said she shared police concerns over the risk of flight and the fear of her interfering with the ongoing investigation.

Remanding Ms Wang into custody, she ordered her to appear again via videolink on May 15th.