A husband and wife charged in connection with a £250,000 sterling drugs haul were couriers for an organised criminal gang, it was alleged in a Northern Ireland court today.
Grandparents MrPaul McSween (49) and his wife, Barbara (51), from Lathum Close, in Prescot, Merseyside, were charged with possession and possession with intent to supply cannabis that was recovered from their car at Larne Harbour, in Co Antrim, on Tuesday.
A member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland Drugs Squad told Ballymena Magistrates' Court he believed the pair had fulfilled a vital role for the drugs gang and feared that, if released, they would re-offend.
"I believe they are employed as drugs couriers. The criminal gangs are likely to put pressure on people to try to recoup their losses," he said. The court heard the 50 kilos of cannabis resin had been professionally concealed in the rear door panels of the car.
Police also recovered a 1,010 worth of cash from Mrs McSween's purse. A detective constable said that when the pair were taken to Ballymena Police Station for questioning, Mr McSween claimed he had bought the vehicle a week ago from an auction.
He also told police he had been instructed to take the vehicle to the Causeway Hotel, in Co Antrim, where he would be met by an unidentified person. Under questioning, he later told detectives that he and his wife had travelled to Northern Ireland in the same car a month ago for the purposes of pleasure but at that time the vehicle had been borrowed.
Mrs McSween, questioned separately from her husband, said she had been unaware of the drugs but believed the purpose of their journey was illegitimate, the court heard. The detective constable told the court that Mrs McSween also confirmed they travelled in the car a month ago again for illegitimate purposes for which they were paid between £500 and £1,000.
He added she later retracted this admission saying she had been confused and tired. The police officer told the court that when the charges were put to him Mr McSween made no reply to the first and said: "I didn't know they were in the car. I had no knowledge of them" when the second charge was put to him.
Mrs McSween replied not guilty to both charges. They were remanded in custody to reappear by video link before Larne Magistrates' Court on December 5th.