A 29-year-old St Johnston man, said to be a ‘signifiant member of an organised crime gang’ has been refused bail and remanded in custody.
Blain Curtis of Drumatoland, St Johnston, appeared before court in Derry charged with what have been described as ‘significant offences’.
Curtis is charged with concealing criminal property and entering into an arrangement to acquire criminal property of £214,216. Curtis is charged with conspiracy to supply £120,000 of cannabis and conspiracy to supply cocaine.
Curtis has been connected to an organised crime gang that is said to be responsible for the importation of and sale of drugs in Northern Ireland, as well as money laundering, through purchasing jewellery and property.
The PSNI, in conjunction with the Gardai, launched a major cross-border probe, involving up to 400 officers, in 2016. So far, up to 17 people have been arrested and charged.
Earlier this month, ten properties in Derry and two in Donegal were search as part of the investigation, relating to assets worth up to £1million.
Detectives seized quantities of drugs and luxury items valued at more than €200,000. The items included high value watches, a large diamond and other jewellery, luxury cars and €9,000 in cash.
A mobile phone belonging to Curtis has been seized.
Judge Connolly refused the defendant bail given that he was believed to be a ‘significant member of an organised crime gang’ and believing Curtis to be a flight risk whose proposed bail address was on the border.
Curtis is to appear, via video link, before court again on July 27.