Latest news with #drughaul
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Woman stopped on M6 had '£370,000 of cannabis' and a child in her car, court hears
A WOMAN has appeared in court accused of a cannabis supply crime after a £370,000 drug haul was found in a vehicle as she travelled with a young child. Leonnie Anne Southgate, aged 34, faces one charge. This alleges that she was in possession of a controlled drug — cannabis resin — with intent to supply it to another. The charge has been brought following an incident on Wednesday this week, July 23. Police had stopped a vehicle, which had been travelling southbound on the M6, at Southwaite services. Prosecutor Diane Jackson told Carlisle Magistrates' Court this morning (Friday): 'In her vehicle was found to be £370,000 worth of cannabis. There was a child in the vehicle also.' In total, 37 kilos of cannabis had been found in a Sports Direct bag for life in the boot of the vehicle. The child was aged two. Southgate did not formally enter a plea to the allegation at the request of a defence solicitor. After hearing brief details from the prosecutor, magistrates concluded that the case should be sent to Carlisle Crown Court. Southgate, of Silkstone Crescent, Buxton, is due to appear there in front of a judge, for a plea and trial preparation hearing, on August 22. In the meantime she has been remanded in custody after an application for bail by her solicitor was refused.
Irish Times
21-07-2025
- Irish Times
Man (46) appears in court over €1.6m drug haul in Wexford
A man (46) charged in connection with a €1.6 million drug haul in Co Wexford, appeared before a special sitting of Gorey District Court on Sunday afternoon. Fintan Fanning of Slaney Drive, Ballycarney, Enniscorthy, came before Judge Kevin Staunton charged with having in his possession a controlled drug, namely cannabis, for the purpose of sale or supply. Herbal cannabis worth an estimated €1.6 million was seized at Tincurry, Ballycarney, on Friday after a van was intercepted by gardaí following a targeted joint operation involving An Garda Síochána and Revenue's Customs Service on Friday. About 80kg of herbal cannabis was discovered during the van search, with an estimated street value of €1.6 million. READ MORE The accused was arrested at the scene and detained for questioning. Mr Fanning appeared in court wearing a grey tracksuit, with slight beard, and heavy tattooing around the neck area. The hearing lasted less than 10 minutes. Det Garda Dean Healy told Judge Stauntion that on July 19th he arrested the accused and charged him as set out on the charge sheet. The accused made 'no comment' when the charge was put to him, Det Healy said. Defence counsel, Craig Phillips, BL instructed by Eoin O'Sullivan, solicitor, said there would be no application for bail. He applied for free legal aid but no statement of means is yet available to the court. [ Woman with black eye and newborn baby claims husband 'kicked me and dragged me up and down' Opens in new window ] Sgt Stephen Ennis told the court he would be seeking a remand in custody for the accused, to appear before Wexford District Court on Tuesday via video link. Judge Staunton said he would grant free legal aid subject to a statement of means being made available to the court and remanded the accused in custody.
News.com.au
10-05-2025
- News.com.au
Five charged after tonne of cocaine found on NSW boat
Dramatic footage has been released showing the moment police raided a fishing boat off the NSW coast. Officers will allege they uncovered 1.1 tonnes of cocaine on-board the boat that was heading towards the port at South West Rocks at 9.40am on Friday. Police charged five men after intercepting a vessel off the NSW coast and seizing more than a tonne of cocaine, worth an estimated $623.4 million, in one of the state's biggest drug hauls. Organised Crime Squad detectives launched the investigation after receiving intelligence about a suspicious purchase of a 13m motor cruiser, with a large sum of cash in Sydney's Sutherland Shire on April 28. Police tracked the movements of the vessel and those allegedly involved, monitoring the group as they travelled north along the coast before heading back towards South West Rocks. On Friday morning, May 9, officers from the NSW Police Marine Area Command intercepted the vessel about 9.30am. Two men, aged 24 and 26, were arrested on board and taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station. Police allege the vessel was carrying about 1110 blocks of cocaine, weighing 1.039 tonnes. The drugs represent more than a million individual hits, with testing underway to confirm the exact weight and purity. At the same time, three more men, aged 28, 29 and 35, were arrested onshore after investigators stopped two vehicles attempting to leave the South West Rocks area. They were taken to Taree Police Station. Strike Force investigators and the AFP also executed search warrants at homes in Beresfield, Edgeworth, Belmont North, Cardiff South, and Catherine Hill Bay. Officers seized electronic devices, documents, clothing, communication devices and cash. The two men arrested on the boat were charged with supplying a prohibited drug, large commercial quantity and participating in a criminal group. The three men arrested onshore were charged with taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug, large commercial quantity and participating in a criminal group. All five appeared in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday, May 10, where they were refused bail. They are due to reappear at Coffs Harbour Local Court on July 15. NSW Police State Crime Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Jason Weinstein, praised the co-ordinated police response, saying the arrests demonstrated how quickly officers could act to stop large quantities of drugs from reaching New South Wales. 'Whether on land or sea, NSW Police have the investigative capability to disrupt and undermine criminal enterprise,' Commissioner Weinstein said. He said the seizure was the result of ongoing monitoring of organised crime methods and effective collaboration with law enforcement partners. 'Make no mistake, these drugs, if allowed to enter our communities, would have had devastating impacts on people's lives and social cohesion, particularly in regional townships,' he said. 'The New South Wales Police Force is committed to protecting our citizens and are proud of the work being done to shut down and suppress organised crime and place those responsible before the courts.' AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Dametto said the success of the operation reflected the strong partnership between agencies and their ongoing mission to cripple criminal syndicates. 'The AFP and NSW Police Force have a long history of disrupting criminal networks attempting to import drugs that destroy our community,' Commissioner Dametto said. 'Combining our resources and expertise allows us to get successful outcomes like the one we are announcing today.' He said Australia's expansive coastline remained a key target for traffickers, but law enforcement agencies were continuing to strike back. 'The bad news for them is the AFP will continue to work together with our partners to target organised crime syndicates who wrongly believe they can operate with impunity,' he said. 'Importation of drugs via the sea is inherently dangerous, and criminals using this smuggling method risk both their freedom and their lives.' Investigations into the source of the cocaine and possible links to other organised crime groups are continuing.
