Man accused of having cannabis worth €1.6m in Cork denied bail by High Court

Gardaí had objected to bail based on their belief the accused was a flight risk with no ties to this jurisdiction

The accused is charged with possession of cannabis, and having the drug for the purpose of sale or supply to others. Picture: Getty

The refusal of bail to a man facing charges arising out of allegations he brought 80kg of cannabis with a street value of €1.6m to Cork was appealed to the High Court where it was refused again.

Killian McCarthy, solicitor, applied to have the next adjournment made peremptory against the State if no DPP directions were available by them. 

Judge David Water did not accede to this application on Monday at Cork District Court but said he might accede to it on the next date. The effect of such an adjournment is that a case can be struck out if certain progress — such as getting DPP directions — is not made.

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

The accused man appeared by video link from prison with the assistance of a Mandarin interpreter. Mr McCarthy said the defendant’s mother had travelled to Cork to be of support for her son.

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 originally at Cork District Court there was an objection to bail based on the seriousness of the allegations and the belief by gardaí 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.

Judge Waters was told the defence had €20,000 available if required as an independent surety.