Three face NI drug charges

Three men appeared in court today on charges relating to Northern Ireland’s largest ever seizure of cannabis, which was destined for loyalist paramilitaries.

Nigel Carter, aged 36, from Roundway, Rossal in Fleetwood, Lancashire; Stephen Martin, 40, from Windslow Grove, Carrickfergus and Stephen Spence, 28, from Glenlea Park, Belfast, were remanded on bail on charges of possession with intent to supply and possession of a £2.5m (€3.5m) drugs haul.

A detective constable told Belfast Magistrates’ Court that it was the largest consignment of cannabis seized in Northern Ireland and he believed the consignment was linked to loyalists.

The officer told the court that Martin was present when the lorry arrived and he was assisting Carter in removing the packages with the help of a third man who was subsequently found to be an innocent party.

Spence was close by and evaded police for around two hours. He was eventually caught with the help of tracker dogs in bushes a short distance away.

The cargo of more than 500kg of cannabis was recovered from a lorry on an industrial estate on the Woodburn Road in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, earlier this week.

Police believe the cargo which had travelled on a ferry from Liverpool was bound for pubs and clubs in Northern Ireland.

The court heard that the lorry belonged to Carter, a HGV fitter from Fleetwood.

Solicitor Dan Duncan applying for bail said his client owned his own firm and had a contract with a large haulage company.

All three were remanded on bail to appear at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on August 14 on the condition they surrender their passports, have no contact with each other and report regularly to their nearest police station.