X-rays 'found £30,000 of cocaine'

Packages of suspected cocaine were found in the accused's body

A man stopped at Belfast International Airport had up to £30,000 worth of suspected cocaine hidden in his body, Belfast High Court has been told.

Prosecutors said seven packages of powder were found by hospital X-rays.

Lamine Sambu, 37 and originally from Guinea-Bissau, had arrived on a flight from Amsterdam on 3 November.

Mr Sambu, who is charged with importing Class A drugs, claimed the packages were given to him free in a nightclub and were for his own personal use.

However, the prosecution alleged he was a "trusted courier" attempting to bring the consignment into Northern Ireland.

An estimated 70 grams of the drugs, with a 72% purity and a street value of between £20,000 and £30,000 were found.

Crown counsel David McClean said UK Borders Agency staff became suspicious after questioning him on his arrival in Belfast.

Opposing bail, he added: "The nature of importation suggests an organised operation.

"The background of the incident would suggest he is a trusted courier that has brought these drugs into the country.

"That would suggest the operation would need to recoup their losses and might require him to carry that out."

A defence barrister said Mr Sambu, whose address was given as Molesworth Mews, Cookstown, came to Northern Ireland seeking employment after being laid off as a construction worker in Portugal, where he had lived for 20 years.

The court was told the accused had no idea the drugs had such potentially high value, and that they were only for himself.

However, refusing bail, Mr Justice Weatherup said: "The only indication I have at the moment is that the items are worth a substantial amount of money.

"If that is so it seems to be unlikely that the applicant was given them for his personal use by someone, but rather more likely that this is indeed part of some larger organisation which is importing these drugs into Northern Ireland.