Director remanded in custody on charges relating to cannabis haul

A company director was in court in Belfast yesterday in connection with the seizure of £16 million worth of drugs in the Republic last year.

Mr Derek Jones (58), an English born US citizen, of The Willows, Old Park Road, Ballymena, Co Antrim, was charged at Belfast Magistrates Court with inducing another person to import and possess cannabis resin in Co Clare between September and November, 1996.

He also faces two charges of money laundering. The charges allege that in Ballymena, between December 1995, and his arrest earlier this week, he concealed cash which was the proceeds of crime.

The huge haul of cannabis was discovered last November after gardai and Irish Customs officials boarded a boat which put into Kilrush, Co Clare, with engine trouble while en route from Gibraltar to Britain.

Det Constable John Horan, of the RUC Serious Crime Squad, said the charges related to the import into the Irish Republic of 1.7 tonnes of cannabis resin. When the charges were put to Mr Jones, he replied: "Not guilty."

The detective, when asked what was the nature of the evidence, replied: "Substantial documentary evidence removed from property belonging to the defendant and businesses relating to him."

Mr Jones was remanded in custody until June 26th.

Mr Jones was one of 12 people arrested last Tuesday in a coordinated search in the Republic, Northern Ireland and England. Some 37 premises were searched and drink worth £300,000 was seized at Lytham St Anne's near Blackpool.

The operation involved officers from the RUC, the Garda, several English police forces and customs officials in the South and Northern Ireland.