Trio charged in cannabis haul

The judge at Belfast Magistrates' Court granted the men bail

Three men have appeared in court in connection with the largest single seizure of cannabis in Northern Ireland.

Stephen Spence, 28, from Glenlea Park in Belfast, Stephen Martin, 40, from Windslow Grove in Carrickfergus, and Nigel Carter, 36, a lorry driver from Fleetwood in Lancashire appeared at Belfast Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

They were arrested after drugs with an estimated street value of £2.5m were found in Carrickfergus, County Antrim.

The drugs were discovered in a lorry among a load of furniture at Woodburn Road in the town.

A detective constable told the court Mr Carter had been driving the lorry.

He claimed Mr Martin was present when the lorry arrived, and alleged the two men were unloading the vehicle when police moved in.

He said Mr Spence had been in the area and hid from police for two hours.

He was found hiding in bushes after a tracker dog was called in.

The detective constable opposed bail because he feared the defendants might either abscond or try to commit more offences to recoup money they allegedly lost.

Bail was granted.