A lorry driver appeared in court in Belfast today charged in connection with an attempt to smuggle £3 million (€4.7 million) of ecstasy and cannabis into Northern Ireland.
Mr John David Wilson (27) of Carnreach, Craigavon, Co Armagh, faced four charges of possessing ecstasy, possession with intent to supply class A drugs and possession with intent to supply class B drugs, cannabis resin.
The charges followed the seizure of 300,000 ecstasy tablets and a kilogram of cannabis at Belfast Port yesterday.
The largest single seizure of drugs ever made in the North was found sealed in vacuum-packed bags in the cab of a lorry which officers intercepted as it came off a ferry from Stranraer, Scotland.
Mr Wilson was remanded in custody at Belfast Magistrates Court until February 17th.
Detective Constable Alan Piper said that due to the large quantity of drugs, police were concerned the defendant would abscond if granted bail.
He said Wilson claimed following his arrest that he had been acting under duress. But the detective added: "Police are satisfied he played a willing part."
Police said immediately after the drug seizure that it was the result of a six-month long surveillance operation and that loyalist paramilitaries were involved.
The drugs are believed to have come from Belgium or Holland.
PA