Cocaine ‘factory’ pair admit drug charges

TWO men who were arrested when a drugs ‘factory’ was discovered in Fintona, have admitted being involved in the production, possession and supply of cocaine.

Ashley Jonathon McClean (35) of Deverney Park, Omagh and Corey Michael Leonard (25) of Golf Course Road, Newtownstewart are currently on bail under strict conditions.

They admitted the offences when they were arraigned at Dungannon Crown Court.

The Class A drug was discovered during a raid on a property on Rahoney Road, Fintona on May 10 last year.

A detective told a previous hearing that a forensic scientist had confirmed that 2.5 of the kilos seized were cocaine of a purity in excess of 70 per-cent along with nine kilos of Benzocaine with a given estimated street value of £500,000 (half a million).

He stated, “However, the purity when cut with that would be significantly greater when sold as street cocaine, so the actual figure may be higher than that”.

McClean and Leonard will appear back before the court on January 28 when other charges against them will be reviewed by the Prosecution Service.

A date has not yet been set for sentencing.