Two men in court in connection with £80k cocaine find in Derry

Both men were granted anonymity due to the general threat existing in the city.

The first defendant was charged with five counts of being concerned in the supply of cocaine, three charges of possessing criminal property and obtaining a cutting agent on January 27.

The second defendant faced three charges of being concerned in the supply of cocaine, three counts of possessing criminal property and obtaining a cutting agent again on January 27.

A police officer connected both men to the charges and opposed bail.

As regards the first defendant, the officer said police attended a business premises owned partly by the second defendant based on information about the supply of drugs in the city.

They found a mortgage document belonging to the second defendant relating to a property in the Bogside.

The first defendant was found to have keys to this property and a search of the car he was driving allegedly uncovered some cannabis.

Later police searched the property in the Bogside and found 1.1 kilos of white powder they believe to be cocaine valued at £80,000.

They also found a substantial sum of money described by the police officer as ‘bundles and bundles, the most I have ever seen’ in Bank of England £50 notes.

The first defendant was interviewed and for his first three interviews made no comment and made a prepared statement in the fourth in which he claimed that he had been asked to paint the property in the Bogside although the officer said there was no evidence that he was a painter.

Bail was objected to on the grounds there was a ‘considerable financial loss’ and an alleged risk of re-offending.

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said his client had given police his PIN number which was ‘very unusual’.

He asked the officer if painting material had been found at the address and was told it had.

The solicitor said his client was a front line worker in the health service who had worked through the pandemic.

He said the link between his client and the address in the Bogside was ‘very tenuous’ and added that it could be some time before the case comes to court.

As regards the second defendant, the officer said he was a partner in a business in the city.

He said as regards the property, the defendant claimed he had lent his brother a sum of money to buy the property but accepted he had control of the address.

The officer said police believed this defendant was involved in the supply of drugs in the city.

He claimed that the defendant was unable to provide ‘a substantial argument’ against the allegations made against him.

The police officer said he found it difficult to believe someone would leave a property unlocked for people to come and go.

He also alleged this defendant would not provide his PIN number and police were working to see what was on that phone.

Defence counsel for this defendant Alan Stewart asked had his client denied all the offences and was told he had.

He said that the accused had asked for forensic tests to be carried out on the drugs and money but was told this could take some time.

The barrister said his client was an integral part of the business he was a partner in and his absence could make a difference to the running of the business.

Deputy District Judge Anne Marshall said these were serious offences involving a large amount of money and a substantial amount of drugs.

She said there was a prima face case to answer and it was a case where she did not feel the defendants were suitable candidates for bail.

Both men were remanded in custody to appear again on February 25.