Limerick man refused bail after €1.5m drug seizure from two vans
A 26-year-old Limerick man has been refused bail after gardaí seized over €1.5m in cocaine and cannabis from two vans. He allegedly tore up the charges and threw them in a toilet.
Limerick man held on remand after €1.5m drugs find in two Ford transit vans
A 26-year-old Limerick man charged in connection with possession of over €1.5 million worth of drugs tore up the charges against him and threw them into a toilet bowl, Limerick District Court heard on Saturday, leinsterexpress.ie reports.
Jamie Long, of Thomond Student Village, Ballygrennan, Limerick, appeared before a special weekend sitting of the court and was refused bail by Judge Patricia Ryan.
Arrested in possession of €70,000 cocaine
Gardaí told the bail hearing that Long was arrested last Wednesday in the front seat of a white Ford transit van at Kilbranish Drive, Woodview, Limerick, in possession of €70,000 worth of cocaine.
A follow-up search of a second Ford transit van, parked at Long's home address, led to the alleged recovery of around €800,000 worth of cocaine and approximately €700,000 worth of cannabis.
Detective Garda Anthony Harnett, Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit, gave evidence of arresting and charging Long with three counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply and three counts of possession for his own use. Det Garda Harnett told the court that Long did not reply to the charges and that, when handed a copy of them, they were "ripped up and thrown into the toilet by him".
Garda: accused is 'integral' part of organised crime group
Det Garda Harnett alleged that Long "is an integral part of an organised crime group who are at the forefront of suppliers of controlled substances in the Limerick region and further beyond". He said the accused had been "entrusted to store, control and deliver huge amounts of cocaine and cannabis".
The garda further alleged that Long had admitted during interview that he was operating as a courier and storing drugs under duress in order to pay off a drug debt in excess of €50,000. "The charges are very serious offences," Det Garda Harnett told the court. "Jamie Long has admitted he was under duress to store and deliver vast amounts of cocaine and cannabis in order to pay off a drug debt."
Long was interviewed on eight occasions, according to Det Garda Harnett, and allegedly made admissions to being a courier with full control of the drugs. He is also said to have admitted he was in possession of €70,000 worth of cocaine when stopped and that he had been due to deliver it to an unnamed person. "He has stated that his DNA will be found on every individual pack of cannabis and cocaine that was seized from this vehicle," the garda alleged.
When arresting Long, gardaí also found him in possession of a key to the second Ford transit van parked outside his home. Investigators obtained a warrant to search the vehicle and discovered "11kg of cocaine and 35kg of cannabis", valued at approximately €1.5 million.
Flight risk and further offending cited as bail grounds
Det Garda Harnett said his objection to bail was based on a belief that Long would "continue to commit further serious crimes, including continuing to engage in the sale and supply of wholesale distribution of controlled drugs". He further alleged that Long, who described himself as addicted to cannabis and cocaine, would "undoubtedly engage in similar activity" to address what would now be an even greater debt following the drug seizure.
The garda also contended that Long was "a serious flight risk" who would "attempt to evade justice given the opportunity", and expressed a belief the accused would try to leave the jurisdiction if released.
Defence disputes flight risk
Michael O'Donnell, solicitor for the accused, refuted the suggestion that Long posed a flight risk, noting that he did not own a passport. O'Donnell proposed that Long could sign on daily at a garda station and adhere to a curfew, adding that "he has a partner who is pregnant at the moment". The solicitor also indicated that an independent bail surety of a substantial amount — to be forfeited in the event of any breach — was available to the court. Judge Ryan said this would not be required.
Inspector Martyn Wallace of Henry Street Garda Station reiterated the gardaí's concerns around releasing Long on bail.
Bail refused; remanded in custody
Judge Patricia Ryan said she was "satisfied", on hearing the evidence presented, to refuse bail. Several members of Long's family, who were present in the courtroom, embraced him after the ruling.
Long was remanded into custody and is due to appear before Limerick District Court via video-link on 3 March.
Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)