Gardaí arrest two men after €500k cannabis seizure in Cork

Both men were allowed out on bail with conditions

Cork District Court heard that the value of the cannabis seized was substantial at €500,000 and the case would eventually be dealt with at a higher court. File photo

Up to 25kgs of cannabis with a street value of €500,000 was seized in Togher and two men were arrested and brought before Cork District Court on Wednesday.

21-year-old Lee Crinnion from Blackwater Grove, Togher, Cork, and 25-year-old Aaron Austin of Araglen Court, Togher, Cork, were arrested by Detective Garda Darren Twomey and Det. Garda Ruairi McGovern, respectively, from the Cork City Divisional Drugs Unit.

Both of them were charged with possession of cannabis and having the cannabis for sale or supply at Togher Road, Cork on Monday, October 5.

Neither of them made any reply to the charges when they were put to them after caution.

Judge David Waters asked Det. Garda Twomey if the value of drugs in the case was significant and if it was likely to stay in the district court but the detective said that the value was substantial at €500,000 and would eventually be dealt with at a higher court.

Sergeant David Fleming said gardaí were not objecting to bail with conditions and defence solicitors, Joseph Cuddigan and Eddie Burke, confirmed that their clients were consenting to the bail terms after discussing them with the investigating gardaí.

Conditions included an 11pm to 7am curfew, signing on three times a week at Togher Garda Station, surrendering their passports and not applying for any other travel documents, providing gardaí with mobile phone numbers on which they could be contacted at all times and that they would have no contact with each other directly or indirectly.

Judge Waters remanded both men on bail to appear again at Cork District Court on November 3 for the DPP’s directions.