THREE MEN have been remanded in custody charged in connection with a £1 million drugs seizure in Belfast.
A court heard yesterday that the suspects were detained after two cars and a lorry were stopped on Saturday following a handover at an industrial estate in the south of the city. Police recovered two large kitbags containing 26kg of suspected herbal cannabis with a street value of up to £520,000.
Subsequent searches of a flat recovered quantities of cocaine, ecstasy tablets, amphetamines and cannabis resin with a similar combined value.
About £15,000 in cash was also seized from the property.
Ryan Black (27), Winchester Road, Carryduff, was described as the “mastermind” of the alleged drugs gang.
He faces 14 charges, including possession of class A and class B drugs with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis and having criminal property.
James Turley (51), Ballymore Road, Tandragee, and Mark Mulholland (25), Glenariff Crescent, Ballymena, are both charged with possessing cannabis with intent to supply.
Mr Turley faces a further count of possessing criminal property while Mr Mulholland is accused of transferring criminal property.
Belfast Magistrates Court was told that two people wanted in connection with the investigation are still at large.
A detective said that during the alleged handover, Mr Mulholland put two bags of cannabis in his Ford Mondeo after receiving them from Mr Turley, a lorry driver.
Mr Turley was paid £2,000 to bring the drugs, the court was told.
Mr Black, a plumber, had circled the area in his own BMW car before the lorry driver arrived, it was claimed. The keys to a flat were also found which led to the follow-up seizure.
District Judge Fiona Bagnall refused to grant bail to any of the accused due to the risks of either reoffending or interfering with the investigation.
Mr Black, Mr Turley and Mr Mulholland were remanded in custody to appear again via video-link next month.