Father and son in court over cannabis haul | Europe

Father and son in court over cannabis haul

A FATHER and son were arrested by gardai during the handover of almost a half a million euro worth of herbal cannabis in a sophisticated sting operation in Co Donegal.

Before Letterkenny Circuit Court yesterday were Kieran Smyth (47) and his son Kieran (25), of Old Grange, Desert Lane, Co Armagh, on a total of six charges of possession of herbal cannabis with intent to supply on August 20, 2007 at Ballina, Falcarragh, Co Donegal. They deny all charges.

The consignment, which was concealed in sealed toolboxes, was intercepted by customs officers at Dublin Airport after arriving from Amsterdam in five cardboard boxes on August 18, 2007.

The boxes, each allegedly containing 10 vacuum packed bags of cannabis were labelled 'computer packs', and addressed to McFadder's Electrics, 16 Ballyhass Road, Falcarragh, Co Donegal.

Members of the garda drugs squad, who were disguised as DHL road hauliers, drove a van to the destination and made contact with the 'business' named on the boxes by mobile phone.

Det Gda William Armstrong of the National Drugs Unit met the accused men in a car park and Kieran Smyth senior signed the delivery docket as "John McFadden".

The consignment was transferred into his jeep and the accused men began to pull off, but were immediately stopped by gardai.

Kieran Smyth junior was holding a mobile phone without a SIM card, but gardai found a SIM card on his person which corresponded with the number they had called earlier.

The trial continues.

http://www.independent.ie

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