Defendant (22) with 43 previous convictions comes before court accused of dealing cocaine and cannabis vapes
A 22-year-old man with a Ballymena address is alleged to have said vape pens containing cannabis THC were "selling fast".
The claim was made by a police officer as James John Rainey, with an address listed as Stroma Drive in Ballymena, appeared at court.
He is accused of being concerned in the supply of cocaine, cannabis and MDMA.
He is also accused of offering to supply 'cannabis vapes', cannabis, cocaine, MDMA, and also faces a charge of possession of 'cannabis vapes'.
The seven charges relate to April 3, 2025.
He appeared at Antrim Magistrates' Court, sitting in Ballymena, on Tuesday.
A police officer said on April 3 last year police conducted a warrant-led search at an apartment at Compassion Place in Ballymena where the defendant was said to be living at the time.
A mobile phone "located directly in front of the defendant" was seized by officers.
The defendant confirmed it was his phone, the court was told.
The officer said the phone has now been triaged and it contained a "large number of chats and media content" which police believe "relate to drugs supply".
It included "people asking for drugs" and "the defendant offering to supply drugs".
Other information included "price lists, menus, and arranging meet-ups and offering to deliver".
Continued the officer: "Of note was the offering of suspected cannabis THC vape pens that appeared to be sold for between £35 to £50.
"Rainey stated to one customer that they were 'selling fast' and that he had 500 and only had 100 left.
"A conservative estimate of the value of the sold vape pens would be £14,000.
"This only relates to the cannabis vape pens and does not relate to the suspected supply of cocaine, herbal cannabis and MDMA.”
On September 14, 2026, police attempted to locate the defendant at a number of addresses without success before locating him at a property in the "Dunclug area of Ballymena".
The officer said "entry to that property was delayed and when police entered a mobile phone in the bedroom was working through a factory reset”.
He added: "A box of 100 empty vapes was located in the property which would be consistent with those identified on the phone report.
"These empty vapes are believed to be filled and sold as THC cannabis vapes.”
When interviewed, the accused said the empty vapes were his and he had previously used them for smoking cannabis THC.
The defendant has 43 previous offences including 18 drugs matters.
One of them is possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply.
He had previously been jailed for a case before the Crown Court.
For the new charges he has been given £500 bail to an address at Crebilly Road, Ballymena.
There is a 9pm-7am curfew when he is electronically tagged.
The case was adjourned to October 8 and district judge Nigel Broderick said the defendant should "consider yourself very lucky" to get bail.