Three remanded over cannabis find

Three men have been remanded in custody after being charged in connection with the discovery of over €3.5 million worth of cannabis in Co Kilkenny this week.

Guotai Lin, (57), Lin Lin (40) and Cho Long He (35) all Chinese nationals of no fixed abode, were brought before Youghal District Court today charged with three offences each following the discovery of more than 3,000 cannabis plants.

All three accused, who were assisted in court by an interpreter, were charged with possession of cannabis, possession of cannabis for sale or supply and cultivation of cannabis at a warehouse in Kildalton, Piltown, Co Kilkenny on May 2nd.

Gda Thomas Gahan gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in respect of Lin Lin and said that he made no reply to the charge. Gda David Gorman gave similar evidence in relation to Guotai Lin.

Det Garda Aisling Hobbs of the Garda National Drugs Unit gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to Cho Long He. She said he replied “it’s not my possession” to the first charge and made no reply to the other two charges.

Insp Eoin Healy applied for a remand in custody for all three, saying gardaí believed they had no ties to Ireland and would not stand trial if granted bail.

The three arresting gardai testified in support of the State’s application for a remand in custody that no documentation had been found on the men or provided as to the men’s identities and the Garda National Bureau of Immigration had no record of them or how or when they entered Ireland.

Defence solicitor Eoin Dee applied for bail and for free legal aid for his three clients.

Judge Terence Finn said he was not in a position to rule on either issue in the absence of any definitive information on whether the men were who they said they were.

Their identities were a matter of conjecture at this point, he said, adding that he was not refusing bail and would defer the issue to allow gardai carry out further inquiries.

The judge remanded all three men in custody to appear again at Cashel District Court next Thursday.