A Dutch truck driver appeared in court today on charges connected with the seizure of cannabis valued at €8.4 million at Dublin Port this week.
About 700kg of the drug was found on Wednesday concealed in a 40ft Dutch-registered truck by officers from Revenue’s Customs service, backed by gardaí. The truck had travelled to Dublin Port from the Netherlands via Holyhead in Wales.
Christinus Verwaajji (47), with an address at Julianalaan, Beusichem, in the Netherlands, was charged at the Dublin District Court, sitting at the Bridewell, with 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, Detective 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 Gda Cameron.
Edward Bradbury, for Mr Verwaajji, 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.
He told Judge O’Donnell that he was being assisted by Dutch colleagues in relation to the case. Mr Bradbury said that a legal aid application would be made on the next date.
However, Det-Gda Cameron said he was seeing a one-week remand and added that “a number of international inquiries” were being made.
Judge O’Donnell remanded Mr Verwaajji in custody to appear again on September 18th at Cloverhill District Court.