Two men charged in connection with €1m drug seizure in Louth

Two men charged in connection with an alleged €1 million drug seizure in County Louth, appeared before a special sitting of Dundalk District Court last Friday evening.

It follows a joint operation involving Revenue's Customs Service and An Garda Síochána's National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

Stephen McGuane (45) and Ciaran McParland (41) both of Bellingham Green, Castlebellingham are each accused of unlawful possession of cannabis and having the drug for sale or supply at the same address on Wednesday April 1st.

Judge Stephanie Coggans heard that Stephen McGuane made no reply when the unlawful possession of drugs charge was put to him after caution following his arrest at Drogheda Garda Station last Friday evening, but in response to the other, charge he said:

“I don’t deal drugs. I’m not a drug dealer”.

His co-accused, Ciaran McParland made no reply when the same two charges were put to him after caution.

The contested bail hearing was told a controlled delivery was made after customs officers intercepted a consignment from the USA and 50 kilos of cannabis, with an estimated street value of €1m was allegedly collected by the accused from a yard in Castlebellingham, before they brought it in a van to their home, where they were allegedly ‘caught red handed’ with the drugs in the kitchen.

Judge Coggans refused Ciaran McParland’s bail application and remanded Stephen McGuane in custody with consent to bail in his own bond of €10,000, with a €5,000 cash lodgement, and an independent surety of €20,000.

As part of his bail terms he must surrender his passport and give an undertaking not to apply for any new travel documents.

He must also and sign-on daily at his nearest garda station once an address is approved in writing by the investigating garda.

Both men are due to appear before Dundalk District Court again on Wednesday.