A DUTCH truck driver was charged yesterday following a seizure of cannabis worth more than €8 million at Dublin Port on Wednesday last.
Officers from Revenue’s Customs service supported by gardaí seized about 700kg of the drug, with an estimated street value of about €8.4 million, which had been found vacuum packed in a 40ft Dutch-registered truck carrying a consignment of flowers.
Yesterday morning a Dutch national, who had been held for questioning, was brought before Dublin District Court, at the Bridewell.
The defendant, Christinus Verwaajji (47), with an address at Julianalaan, Beusichem, in the Netherlands, was charged with simple possession of the cannabis and possession with intent to supply, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act.
During the proceedings, which were translated by Dutch interpreter Det Neil Cameron of the Garda National Drugs Unit, told Judge Hugh O’Donnell that he arrested the defendant on Thursday night at Store Street Garda station.
He said Mr Verwaajji made no reply to one of the counts and said “I understand” to the other. He was then given a true copy of the charge sheets, said Det Cameron.
Defence solicitor Edward Bradbury told Judge O’Donnell that a bail application was not being made and that he was seeking to have the case put back until next Wednesday, at the Bridewell courthouse.
He told Judge O’Donnell that he was being assisted by Dutch colleagues in relation to the case.
However, Det Cameron said he was seeking a one-week remand and added that “a number of international inquiries” were being made. Judge O’Donnell asked why the case should not be remanded to the Cloverhill District Court.
Mr Bradbury said that colleagues would be coming from the Netherlands, but that he would leave the matter in the court’s hands.
Judge O’Donnell remanded the defendant in custody to appear again on Friday next at Cloverhill District Court.
Mr Bradbury said that a legal aid application would be made on the next date.
In reply, the judge said: “You will need a lot of information on his background. If he can afford a truck, he can afford to pay for a lawyer.”