Two men remanded in custody after drugs seized in Trillick

TWO men have been remanded in custody after police discovered a cannabis factory in County Tyrone.

The pair, aged 19 and 24 with an address given as Cavanamara View, Trillick where the factory was discovered, are charged with possession of a class B drug, possession of a class B drug with intent to supply, cultivating cannabis, possessing criminal property and dishonestly using electricity.

A police officer told a special sitting of Dungannon Magistrates Court the charges could be connected.

She explained police forced entry to the property on April 17 and found the two men sleeping on blow-up mattresses in the living room.

Five other rooms contained a combined total of 200 cannabis plants as well as growing equipment and €10,000 cash.

Approximately 250 grams of herbal cannabis, valued at £3,500 was seized, most of which was in vacuum-packed bags.

“There was a crude extraction of electricity through the cavity wall in the house, and it is estimated that £13,000 has been taken,” said the officer.

During interview the teenager. who claims to be a footballer in Lithuania, said was only in the house a few days having come on holiday.

He insisted having nothing to do with the drugs and denied interfering with the electricity supply, although accepted €800 was his.

The older male said he has been at the property a few months and admitted ‘redirecting the electric’.

He accepted the cannabis and around €9,000 belonged to him.

In terms of the cannabis plants, which have an estimated Home Office value of £172,000, he said it was: “His first grow and he would maybe admit it was too much to smoke.”

Objecting to bail, the officer pointed to a strong risk of flight as the accused have no ties to the jurisdiction and the teenager has a return-flight booked to Lithuania for April 22.

A defence barrister said both men could be released and have put forward separate alternative addresses in Keady, County Armagh.

However, rejecting this District Judge Steven Keown said neither defendant was a suitable candidate for bail.

They will appear again by video-link at Omagh Magistrates Court on May 13.