Men charged over £1 million drugs seizure

The drugs were recovered after police stopped and searched two vehicles at Dargan Road, in the north of the city, on Tuesday evening.

Co Armagh man Gerard Bates, 24, and 36-year-old Robert Byrne, from Co Louth, appeared together at Belfast Magistrates’ Court to face a series of charges linked to the find.

Both men are accused of possessing Class B drugs with intent to supply, and being concerned in its supply.

Bates, of Watsonville in Lurgan, faces an additional count of unlawfully supplying cannabis to another person.

Although no further details were disclosed, a detective constable said he could connect both accused to the alleged offences.

Neither defendant applied for bail during the brief hearing.

A lawyer for Byrne, from Moneymore in Drogheda, said he was still trying to find a suitable address.

District Judge Meehan remanded the pair in custody to appear again via video-link within the next week.