A garage owner has been sent forward for trial over a seizure of close to €2m worth of cocaine at his business in Dublin.
The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) searched Shields Automotive at Parklands, Long Mile Road, Dublin 12, on 14 February last year.
During the same operation, they also stopped a van and a car at two other locations.
Garage owner Wesley Shields, 33, with an address at Kilmartin Gardens, Tallaght, Dublin, and apprentice mechanic Dylan Grouse, 27, from Golden Lane, Dublin 8, were both arrested at the premises where gardai alleged they found €1.96m worth of cocaine.
Electrician David Rowland, 42, with an address at Earlsfort Vale, Lucan, Co Dublin allegedly had 2kg of cocaine worth €140,000, claimed to have been delivered to a fourth co-defendant’s car on the Long Mile Road.
They have been charged with possessing cocaine with intent to sell or supply in connection with the seizures and remain on bail with a range of conditions.
GNDOCB detectives served Mr Shields and Rowland with books of evidence when they appeared again at Dublin District Court.
The Director of Public Prosecutions directed trial on indictment and Judge Treasa Kelly acceded to the State’s request to grant a return for trial order.
She told them she was sending them forward to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the case will be listed for mention on June 6.
They were remanded on bail set at €31,000 for Mr Shields and €13,000 for Mr Rowland.
Judge Kelly warned them to notify the prosecution if they intended to use alibis in their defence and were granted legal aid.
The pair have yet to indicate pleas and were granted legal aid.
A prior bail hearing was told gardaí searched the garage and allegedly discovered a drug processing and distribution facility. Cocaine was found in various rooms in the building, the court was told.
It also heard that gardaí thought that the garage was a “drug processing and distribution facility”.
Mr Shields owned the premises but maintained that he rented out rooms to others.
Mr Grouse will appear again at Dublin District Court on 24 May to be served with a book of evidence.
The fourth co-defendant, Lauren Graham, 27, of Cappagh Green, Finglas, Dublin, was sent forward for trial earlier to the higher court charged with drugs offences over the cocaine allegedly seized on the Long Mile Road.
