Drugs seizure worth £145,000

A man has appeared in court in Derry charged in connection with a seizure of drugs with an estimated street value of £145,000.

William Denzel Simpson was arrested on Wednesday after police seized 12.5 kilogrammes of cannabis resin during searches in Dungiven, Claudy and Eglinton.

The 41-year-old father of three from Glenrandal in Eglinton faces a total of three charges.

These include possession, possesion with intent to supply and selling an illegal substance, namely cannabis resin.

Further hauls

Londonderry Magistrates Court heard how the accused was arrested in Dungiven after police discovered £120,000 worth of cannabis in his car.

An RUC constable told the court that police recovered further hauls of cannabis in Eglinton and Claudy worth £25,000 acting on information from Mr Simpson.

The policeman added that the accused had made a full admission while in custody and had also admitted to having earned £32,000 from drugs over the past six years.

Mr Simpson was relased on his own bail of £2,500 and an independent surety of five thousand pounds.

He is due to appear again at Limavady Court on 1 August.