Two men charged with a series of drug offences remanded

A judge at Derry Magistrate's Court has said that drug enterprises 'go all the way up to hedge funds' and for 'the machine to work all the cogs have to work'.

District Judge Barney McElholm was speaking as he remanded two men in custody on a series if drug charges.

Both men were granted anonymity on the basis of the threat existing in the city.

One of the men was charged with possessing a Diazepam tablet and breaching his bail on November 26.

The other man faced a total of 20 charges including being concerned in the supply of cocaine, cannabis and Diazepam on various dates between January 12, 2023 and November 26 this year.

He was also charged with possessing criminal property on November 20, possessing fireworks on October 30 as well possessing 1,200 counterfeit euros.

He was further charged with concealing criminal property on dates between January 12 last year and November 26 this year.

A police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail.

He told the court that police stopped a vehicle in which the two men were travelling.

One of the was seen trying to hide something under his leg and when it was checked a single Diazepam tablet was said to have been found.

The officer said that this breached bail that the man had been granted on substantial drug charges.

As regards the second man the officer said police believe he was connected to a find made earlier this year that included 363 Diazepam tablets, 12 grammes of cannabis, 225 grammes of cocaine with the total value of drugs found being put at more than £33,000.

The court heard that after being stopped this defendant tried to snap a iPhone in half but only succeeded in damaging it.

He refused to give police the PIN number and made no comment interviews.

The officer said that there was 'substantial evidence' on the phone the defendant was 'heavily involved' in the supply of class A and B drugs with 'multiple chats' relating to drug supply.

He added there were pictures and videos on the phone of both defendants 'with large amounts of actual drugs' including one where they were allegedly pictured with two kilos of cocaine valued at 'tens of thousands of pounds'.

The court heard that this defendant had people working for him and there were messages suggesting that he gave them boxes of cannabis valued at more than £5,000 and on one occasion gave one helper cocaine valued at £11,000.

Bail was opposed due to the risk of interference with justice as police had not yet located the cocaine pictured on the phone.

The officer said the second defendant had 62 previous convictions and was heavily involved in drug supply.

Defence counsel for the first man said the other defendant was a 'significant drug dealer' and asked for bail for his client.

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley for the second defendant said that every drug dealer in the city made themselves look like they were 'the biggest drug dealer ever'.

He said this was often no more than 'bravado' and added that his client accepted he used drugs.

Judge McElholm said that drug enterprises included everything from hedge funds down to street dealers.

He asked 'where do they think the money comes from?'

The judge added that anyone who involved themselves in this business was not innocent and while they may not be making huge profits they are 'a necessary part of the functioning machine'.

He refused bail and remanded both men in custody to appear again on December 12.