Man accused of having €1.6m cannabis stash in Cork storage unit further remanded in custody

Drugs haul was found at a storage unit in Little Island

Accused was charged with possession of cannabis, and having the illegal drug for the purpose of sale or supply to others.

A 30-year-old man accused of having a €1.6m stash of cannabis at a storage unit in Little Island last week was remanded in custody for a fortnight on Tuesday.

Detective Garda Derry O’Brien testified last week at Cork District Court that he arrested the defendant for the purpose of charging. With the assistance of a Mandarin interpreter, the defendant made no reply to the charges.

30-year-old Han Xiaochen, with an address at 907 Griffith’s Close, Birmingham, was charged with possession of cannabis, and having the illegal drug for the purpose of sale or supply to others.

Both counts refer to Monday, July 6, at U Store It, Unit 24, Euro Business Park, Little Island, Co Cork.

Detective Garda O’Brien said Han Xiaochen made no reply to the charges.

Sergeant David Fleming applied on Tuesday for the defendant to be remanded in custody for two weeks until July 28, and Judge David Waters acceded to that application.

Han Xiaochen appeared by video link from prison and in court a Mandarin interpreter translated proceedings for him. The defendant has not made an application for bail.

The judge said if the accused decided at a later stage to apply for bail then he should put the State on 48 hours’ notice.

In terms of jurisdiction, the judge asked the value of the alleged drug seizure. When told it was €1.6m, Judge Waters said it clearly would not be a matter for district court jurisdiction.