Electrician accused over £1.7m cocaine haul is refused bail
An electrician accused of taking part in an operation to move up to £1.7m worth of cocaine in Belfast must remain in custody, a High Court judge has ruled.
Michael Moyes, 27, was refused bail amid claims he helped to shift the drugs from a city centre apartment block earlier this month.
Lord Justice Colton held: “There is clearly evidence of highly organised and high-level (alleged) involvement in cocaine, an absolute scourge on society.”
Moyes, from Stanhope Street in Belfast, was among four men detained and charged over suspected handovers at locations near a block of flats on McAuley Street on August 10.
Police observed co-accused Brian McMullan, 34, of Madrid Street in the city, leave the complex with a large bag and go to two waiting vehicles, according to the prosecution case.
Moyes was said to have received a package containing five blocks of cocaine while he waited in a Renault Clio car.
McMullan also passed a further three blocks into a Mercedes van jointly occupied by 26-year-old Lee McKee, of Alexandra Terrace in Crumlin, and Abdullah Hassan, 33, from St James’ Crescent in Belfast, it was claimed.
Officers stopped both vehicles, seized the drugs and arrested all four defendants.
Police found another six blocks of cocaine, one kilo of herbal cannabis and a pressing machine during searches of the apartment allegedly linked to McMullan. In total, the 14 kilos of recovered cocaine has an estimated street value of between £1.12m and £1.68m, the court heard.
Moyes faces a charge of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply in connection with the seizure.
He claims someone from the neighbourhood asked him to collect items but denies knowing there was anything illegal involved.
Opposing bail, Crown counsel submitted: “He refused to provide any further details about that individual who is now in the ether.”
Defence barrister Luke Curran stressed that Moyes is a qualified electrician with no criminal record. “He said he didn’t know what was in the bag, he was asked to do it as a favour for someone from the area,” the lawyer added.
Even in the disputed case against him, Mr Curran argued, his client was only an alleged courier at the bottom of the operation.
However, Moyes was denied bail based on the risk of re-offending or interfering with the ongoing police probe.
Lord Justice Colton stated: “There is a concern that people involved, if released, could be put under pressure and asked questions about the investigation.”