A 47-year-old man has appeared in court charged in connection with the seizure of more than €3.2 million worth of cannabis and cocaine in Dublin.
Philip Lawless, with an address at River Forest in Leixlip in Co Kildare, is facing six charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
The grandfather and father-of-four, who was brought before Dublin District Court this morning, was arrested on Wednesday following the search of a storage facility in the Ballymount Industrial Estate.
Garda Tara Higgins from the Dublin Crime Response Team based at Dublin Castle, told the court 115kg of cannabis worth an estimated €2.3m was seized during the operation along with 10kg of cocaine worth an estimated €700,000.
In a follow up search at a premises on Beresford Street in Dublin’s North Inner city, one kilogram of cannabis resin with a value of €6,000 was also recovered.
Mr Lawless is charged with three counts of possession and possession for sale or supply.
Garda Higgins, who gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution, said the charges are “likely to be upgraded” due to the value of the drugs.
She told the court the accused made no reply after he was charged and cautioned in Kevin Street Garda Station yesterday evening.
Defence barrister Kevin McCrave, who applied to the court for bail for his client, said Mr Lawless had no previous convictions and had not come to the attention of gardaí in the past.
Mr McCrave also said his client was the sole provider in the family home and the court was told he had people dependent on him.
Garda Higgins objected to the bail application.
Ms Justice Marie Quirke, who described the charges as very serious and noted the objection from gardaí, refused the bail application.
The judge remanded the accused in custody to Cloverhill Prison to appear in Cloverhill District Court next Tuesday 9 April via video link.
