Men charged over cannabis seizure
Monday, 9 November 2009 15:17Two men have appeared in court in Newry charged in connection with the importation of a large haul of drugs at the weekend.
The PSNI said they seized an estimated £500,000 worth (E559,000) of cannabis and a large sum of cash at Portadown Road in Armagh.
The seizure was part of a cross-border security operation in co-operation with gardaí.
At Newry Magistrates' Court this morning, George Norman Boyd Courtney, 27, from Royal Court, Gracehill, in Ballymena and Edward Bamber, 41, from Grange Avenue, also in Ballymena were both charged with importing cannabis.
Mr Courtney, who was arrested in Armagh, was further accused of conspiracy to supply the drug.
Mr Bamber, who was detained in Lisburn, faced six charges including possessing cannabis and possessing the drug with intent to supply.
A PSNI Detective Constable told the District Judge he believed he could connect the accused to the charges.
They were remanded in custody to appear again via video link on 17 November at Armagh Magistrates' Court.
Gardaí have released without charge a man in his 20s who had been arrested in Co Monaghan in relation to the seizure and a file has been sent to the DPP.
