22/02/2006

Three appear in court on drugs trafficking charges

Three people have appeared in Londonderry Magistrates Court after cocaine with a street value of half a million pounds was seized in County Londonderry on Monday.

Two men and a woman, all faced charges relating to being involved with drugs trafficking. All three have denied the charges.

James McConnell, 36, from Eglinton Village and Patrick Doherty, 37, of no fixed abode, were both remanded in custody and Heather Howlett, 55, from the Glen estate in Derry was released on police bail.

The court heard that a cocaine press and a machine for cutting the drug with other powder was recovered from Ms Howlett's house, however she denied any knowledge of what the object may have been used for.

Mr Doherty, who was driving the van in which the drugs were found, also denied all knowledge of the narcotics, adding that he had thought that he had been transporting car parts.

All three will reappear in court on February 25.

(EF/SP)

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