Man accused of having cannabis worth €1.6m in Cork had entered country illegally, court told

Man allegedly flew from Birmingham to Belfast and then travelled by train to Cork to avoid immigration checks

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

 The controlled delivery of 80 kilos of cannabis into Cork with a street value of €1.6m was made to a storage unit in Little Island rented by a man who allegedly flew from Birmingham to Belfast and then travelled by train to Cork to avoid immigration checks in the Republic of Ireland.

These were the allegations against Xiaochen Han, aged 30, with an address at 907 Griffith’s Close, Birmingham, who was charged with possession of cannabis, and having the illegal drug for the purpose of sale or supply to others. 

With the assistance of a Mandarin interpreter at Cork District Court, the accused made an application for bail through barrister Hugo Mills, instructed by Chen Solicitors, who were “retained privately”, Mr Mills said.

Both counts — possession of cannabis and having the drugs for sale or supply — refer to Monday, July 6, at U Store It, Unit 24, Euro Business Park, Little Island, Co Cork.

Detective Garda Derry O’Brien testified at Cork District Court that that there was an objection to bail based on the seriousness of the allegations and the belief by gardaí that the accused was a flight risk with no ties to this jurisdiction.

The detective said the case involved a joint investigation by Cork City Divisional Drugs Unit, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, and Revenue and Customs, and the execution of a controlled delivery of the large shipment of cannabis to the unit at the business park in Little Island.

“Gardaí believe he is a flight risk and that he would flee the jurisdiction immediately if granted bail. He has zero ties to the jurisdiction and admitted travelling from the UK to Belfast and to Cork by train. This was to avoid flagging immigration at airports with the Republic as he did not have a visa to be here — he has come to the country illegally,” Det Garda O’Brien said.

Defence barrister Mr Mills said the defendant had no previous convictions and that there is no evidence of an intention to commit further offences. The detective agreed but said that the defendant was in control of €1.6m worth of cannabis which has now been seized.

“You have no direct evidence that any person threatened by client… or that any person demanded any payment from my client,” Mr Mills said, and Det Garda O’Brien agreed.

The barrister said the defendant’s mother had come to court and had €20,000 available if required as an independent surety.

Judge Waters said in light of the evidence, the state had made out a valid objection to bail and he refused bail. He remanded Xiaochen Han in custody until August 10.