Three women were accused yesterday of laundering money belonging to an alleged drug dealer who is in custody following a huge cannabis seizure in the Republic last year. A prosecuting lawyer told Belfast Magistrates Court that the investigation was "protracted and complex" and would take several months to complete.
The accused are two Co Derry women, Ms Caroline Zara Lees (39), Ardmoneen Court, and Ms Nicola Bass (37), Queen's Avenue, both Magherafelt, and Ms Norma Elder (50), of Knockburn Crescent, Lisburn, Co Antrim. They were remanded on bail of £15,000 each until December 5th.
They were charged with laundering the alleged criminal profits of Mr Derek Jones (58), of Old Park Road, Ballymena, Co Antrim. He has been in custody since June in connection with the seizure of cannabis with a street value of £16 million at Kilrush, Co Clare, last November.