Two remanded over £18m drugs haul

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Two men have been remanded in custody over the seizure of Northern Ireland's largest ever haul of drugs.

Cannabis worth about £18m was found in a warehouse in Newtownards on Tuesday.

The accused are: Stephen James McGivern, 31, Oak Crescent, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear and Martin Kerfoot, 39, of Seacliff Road, Bangor, County Down.

They are charged with possession of a Class C drug and intent to supply. The court heard the drugs were found hidden in pallets inside a removal lorry.

Newtownards Magistrates Court heard that both accused were arrested during a raid involving the police and the Revenue and Customs Service.

Mr Kerfoot is a partner in a removal and storage company. Mr McGivern is a lorry driver.

A detective sergeant told the court that a search of the property and two vehicles uncovered three and a half tonnes of cannabis resin with a street value estimated at £18m.

The resin was concealed inside doors, stacked on pallets inside a removal lorry.

Some of the resin had already been transferred into a hired vehicle, the court heard.

The men were remanded in custody until 27 October.