A haul of herbal cannabis seized in an attic could be worth £760,000 (€950,000), the High Court in Derry heard yesterday.
Prosecutors said 38kg of a cannabis strain known as “blue cheese” were discovered during a raid on a grow house last month.
Electric fans and air fresheners had been operating in an attempt to disguise the smell inside the property at Leckagh Drive, Magherfelt, it was claimed.
Police also recovered £28,000 (€35,000) in cash from the car of a Chinese businessman who had arranged to rent the house, a judge was told.
Frankie Huang (33), Meadowcroft, Dromore, Co Tyrone, faces charges of cultivating cannabis, having Class B drugs with intent to supply and being concerned in their supply.
Mr Huang was said to have arranged the rental of the Leckagh Drive house and paid a cash deposit.
Mr Huang’s barrister, Patrick O’Kane, argued that there was no risk of the accused fleeing if released, pointing to his 10 years spent in Northern Ireland and the two takeaway businesses he runs.
Mr Justice Treacy adjourned the bail application for a week to allow checks on proposed sureties.
He stressed: “I want to be satisfied that the money put forward . . . as far as police can establish it, is clean money.”