Two males appear in court after Gardai seize €400k worth of alleged drugs
The two men were arrested by gardai as part of Operation Tara targeting alleged drug distribution and associated criminal activity.
Lee McBride (46), of Kiltole, Convoy, Lifford in Co Donegal and a 50-year-old man, who cannot be identified as reporting restrictions are in place, were brought before a special sitting of Dundalk District Court this afternoon.
McBride is charged in connection with an alleged €200,000 worth of cocaine that was discovered in a van in the Co Louth area on Monday night, April 28.
The second man, who cannot be named, is charged in connection with an alleged €196,000 of cannabis discovered in a suitcase behind a rear garden wall of a property in Co Louth in the early hours of Tuesday morning, April 29.
Garda Leon Fox of Drogheda Garda Station gave evidence of arresting McBride and charging him at 1.25pm on Tuesday. He said McBride made no reply after caution.
Defence barrister Stephen Faulkner said there was no application for bail as the accused consents to be remanded in custody.
Judge Stephanie Coggins remanded McBride in custody to appear before the court again next Tuesday, May 6. Legal aid was granted after the court heard McBride is on disability benefits.
Garda Jason McDonagh said he arrested and charged the second man, who cannot be named, at 3.50pm on Tuesday and said he made "no reply" after caution.
During a contested bail hearing, Gda McDonagh said the man was present in the living room of a house in Co Louth when gardai searched it under warrant in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
It is alleged a number of empty bags and weighing scales were discovered in the sitting room while a suitcase, containing almost 10kg of suspected cannabis worth €196,000 was located over a back wall of the garden. It's alleged a step ladder was in place against the wall.
It's also alleged a number of mobile phones were also located in the property.
Gda McDonagh said it's likely further more serious charges will be put to the accused.
Judge Coggins acceded to Gda McDonagh's request and refused bail. Legal aid was granted to the accused's solicitor.
The accused was remanded in custody to appear before Dundalk District Court next Tuesday, May 6 via videolink.
All of the alleged drugs seized are subject to an analysis by Forensic Science Ireland, the court heard.
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