Fresh charges over €600k cannabis haul

New charges were brought yesterday against three people accused of possession of almost €600,000 worth of cannabis in Cork City.

The charges, on conviction, carry up to life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum period of 10 years unless there were exceptional circumstances.

Garda Eoin O’Toole brought this charge under 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act against Chen Yan, 34, of no fixed address, and Gui Yu Yang, 35, and Margaret Lee Wu, 46, of 6 Linnetfields Green, Clonee, Dublin.

The new charge states that they were allegedly in possession of cannabis for sale or supply at a time when the value of the drug exceeded the €13,000 threshold at Unit 7, South Link Business Park, Ballycurreen, Cork, on Mar 29.

The charge arises out of the seizure of €600,000 worth of cannabis plants growing at an industrial unit in South Link Business Park in March.

Gui Yu Yang also faced another new charge, namely that of cultivation of the illegal drug at that time.

All three now face charges of possession of the drug, having it for sale or supply, and possessing the cannabis for sale or supply when the value exceeded €13,000. Chen Yan and Gui Yu Yang are additionally accused of cultivating the drug.

They were all remanded on continuing bail by Judge Leo Malone to appear again at Cork District Court on January 14.

A fourth co-accused previously jumped bail and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Eddie Burke, solicitor, represented the two men yesterday, and Emmet Boyle, solicitor, represented Lee Wu. The solicitors were appointed on free legal aid.