Four in court over seizure of cannabis worth €8.5m

Gardaí discovered €8.5m worth of cannabis at a storage lock-up in Dublin allegedly rented by a transnational organised crime group for "onward distribution" of drugs, a court heard.

Raymond Hall, 58, of Abbeylands, Duleek, Co Meath; Onkar Singh, 45, an Indian national with an address in Zwaluwstraat, Maassluis, Netherlands; Buta Ram, 52, also from India but with an address at Lundens Straat, Rotterdam, in the Netherlands; Nicolae Onica, 31, from Moldova but living in Well Road, Maryborough Village, Portlaoise, Co Laois appeared at Dublin District Court.

The four were arrested on Friday when detectives with the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) allegedly uncovered 426kg of cannabis at U Store It Self Storage, M50 Business Park, Ballymount Road Upper.

A bail hearing was told the drugs were kept there was unbeknownst to the storage unit's operator.

GNDOCB Detectives Mark Donovan, Joe Gavin, Gavin Curran and Patrick Roche told Judge John Cheatle that the defendants "made no reply" when charged with unlawfully possessing the cannabis and having it for the purpose of sale or supply, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Mr Hall made no bail application.

However, Mr Singh, a fruit ripening businessman, Mr Ram, a cleaning firm owner, and van driver Mr Onica pleaded to be released with conditions.

The court provided translators to the defendants.

Judge Cheatle refused Mr Singh and Mr Ram's bail due to the seriousness of the charges and their lack of ties to the State.

Mr Onica was granted bail on his bond of €10,000 but was remanded in custody pending the approval of two independent sureties with €10,000 each before he can be released with conditions.

They will appear at Cloverhill District Court on Friday.