Slovakian held after €500k drug find

A Slovakian man has been remanded in custody after he was charged yesterday following the discovery of €500,000 worth of cannabis plants in a growhouse at an isolated farmhouse in Cork earlier this week.

Piotr Stancik, aged 31, was brought before Bandon District Court, where he was charged with possession of cannabis, contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, and with the cultivation of cannabis plants, contrary to Section 17 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, at the townland of Ros na Killa, Tarelton, on Sept 18.

The growhouse was discovered after drugs squad officers raided a house near Macroom on Wednesday night and found 600 cannabis plants with a potential street value of €500,000. Gardaí described the growhouse as one of the largest found in West Cork this year.

Garda Claire Bernadette McMahon told Judge James McNulty yesterday that Mr Stancik made no reply when the charges were put to him. Myra Dineen, defending, applied for bail but Insp Gerry Lacey said gardaí were objecting over concerns Mr Stancik might leave the country.

Judge McNulty remanded Mr Stancik in custody to appear before Clonakilty District Court next Friday.