£50,000 cocaine seizure in Derry could be linked to £10million South Armagh seizure - court told

A seizure of £50,000 of cocaine on the Foyle Bridge yesterday could be linked to a £10million seizure of the drug in Jonesboro, County Armagh on December 11, Derry Magistrate's Court heard today.

The revelation came in the case of two men who were remanded in custody in connection with the find in a van on the bridge on December 20.

Dominic Leo Peter McGrath (46) whose address was given as Limehill Road in Pomeroy, County Tyrone and Aaron Andrew Drever (43) of Drumadd Green in Armagh were both charged with possessing cocaine and possessing the drugs with intent to supply on December 20.

McGrath is further charged with driving while disqualified, with no insurance and failing to give police details of the vehicle's owner.

A police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail in the case of McGrath. 

There was no bail application for Drever who was remanded in custody to appear again on January 18.

The court heard that a van driven by McGrath was stopped at a checkpoint on the Foyle Bridge.

The driver was found to be disqualified and a subsequent search uncovered approximately one kilo of cocaine with street value of £50,000.

The officer said that the packaging was similar to that found on the £10million package found in Armagh.

McGrath made a mostly no comment interview and bail was opposed as the defendant had 86 previous convictions. 

The court heard that the address proferred by McGrath was inhabited by a family and the landlord said the defendant had not lived there for a long period. 

Defence solicitor Paul McCrudden asked was there any DNA connection to the drugs and the officer said investigations were still ongoing. 

The solicitor said that he believed his client could be managed by bail conditions. 

Deputy District Judge Paul Copeland said this was not a suitable case for bail and remanded McGrath in custody to appear again on January 18.