Four are sent for trial over €7m Kildare drug find

Four people charged in connection with an alleged €7m cannabis find in south Kildare on April 1 have been sent forward for trial, from Naas District Court.

Emre Ozdemier, 29, whose address was given as 23 Burrin Street, Carlow; Alex Forsyth, 33, whose address was given as 12 Dunedin Terrace, Monkstown Farm, Dublin; John Weekes, 39, whose address was given as Branswood, Athy and Alanna Corrigan, 30, whose address was given as Crookstown Upper, Ballitore, Co Kildare, first appeared before Naas District Court in early April.

On that date Garda Kayleigh Milward alleged Mr Ozdemier was arrested at Crookstown Upper and he had hidden a ditch for over three hours before being found by a garda search dog named Dutch and a search team. Gda Milward claimed he was found in a deep dyke at the back of the property where the search took place and the cannabis was located in a shed at the property.

The garda also claimed that some 350 kilos of cannabis herb was found and in a follow up search gardaí found tubs of benzocaine, which can be used as a mixing agent.

Gda Milward said the defendant’s family origins are in Turkey. She added his wife is living and working abroad, as an air hostess in Morocco.

A digital scales was also found at Mr Ozdemier’s address as well as empty drug bags, the garda alleged.

Garda Elaine Commins told of arresting Alex Forsyth and she alleged he made an admission about the shed being used to store cannabis and he is the occupier of the address.

She said the intelligence-led operation saw searches conducted at locations in Kildare and Carlow and she alleged some €20,000 worth of cannabis was also found in a coal bunker.

“He is a self confessed drug user,” she claimed.

Solicitor David Powderly described the defendant as a mule who is on the lowest possible rung of the ladder and who only supplied four walls and a roof for storage by others. He said a substantial cash bail sum would be available.

Gda Commins claimed John Weekes was observed attempting to flee the scene and attempted to discard two phones while leaving. A wallet with documents belonging to him was found in a vehicle owned by Mr Ozdemier.

Barrister Richard Wixted said the only evidence against Mr Weekes was that he happened to be on the premises and "reacted in a rash way” when the gardaí arrived. He said he was there to retrieve a wallet.

They were sent forward to Naas Circuit Court by Judge Desmond Zaidan. John Weekes and Alanna Corrigan were remanded on continuing bail. Judge Desmond Zaidan told them that if an alibi forms part of their defence they must present details of this to the prosecution in advance of the hearing and within 14 days.