Garda file on €1.6m cannabis case in Cork sent to DPP

Cork District Court also heard that a certificate of forensic analysis had been completed in respect of the seizure

The defendant is charged with possession of cannabis, and having the illegal drug for the purpose of sale or supply to others.

The garda file in an investigation involving the seizure of 80kgs of cannabis with a street value of €1.6 million that was allegedly sent to a premises at Little Island, Co Cork, has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, it emerged on Monday.

Sergeant Gearóid Davis confirmed at Cork District Court that the file had been sent to the DPP and that a certificate of forensic analysis had been completed in respect of the seizure.

Judge David Waters formally refused jurisdiction for the case at the district court when the accused appeared by video link from prison with the assistance of a Mandarin interpreter. The judge noted that the file going to the DPP and the forensic certificate represented significant progress in the case.

Killian McCarthy, solicitor, said that even allowing for that progress, the defendant was still concerned about how long the process was taking and that he had been remanded in custody since July.

Judge Waters said: “Given the seriousness of the matter and the quantity of drugs involved, a remand from July 7 to today is not unreasonable.” The defendant was remanded in continuing custody until October 5.

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.

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, County Cork.

Detective Garda Derry O’Brien testified originally 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.

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