A LORRY driver from Kesh who is alleged to have been working as a “courier” for an organised crime gang suspected of importing large amounts of cocaine and cannabis into Northern Ireland has been remanded in custody.

Darren William Fredrick Loughlin (39), of Gortacar Road, appeared in the dock at Fermanagh Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon, alongside two co-accused, Paul Joseph Currie (53), of Limekiln Lane, Cookstown, and his son, 29-year-old Stephen Currie, of Old Park Mews, Cookstown.

All three were charged in connection with substantial seizures of illegal drugs and cash made from various locations in the Mid Ulster area at the weekend.

Mr Loughlin and Stephen Currie are both charged with possessing quantities of cannabis and cocaine, as well as further charges of possession with intent to supply on November 12, 2016.

The two men are also accused of concealing criminal property and encouraging or assisting offences by possessing Benzocaine, a mixing agent used to cut cocaine.

Meanwhile, Paul Joseph Currie is facing a total of four charges, alleging that he conspired with his son and Mr Loughlin in the drugs offences and also conspired to conceal the criminal property.

Neither Paul nor Stephen Currie made an application for bail on Monday and both were remanded in custody.

Defending counsel, Neil Fox, made a bail application on behalf of his client Mr Loughlin, but it was strongly opposed by the police.

A PSNI detective constable told the court that a Scania lorry being driven by Mr Loughlin arrived at Killymaddy tourist amenity centre, near Ballygawley, at around 11.40am on Saturday.

He said that it was believed that the lorry had entered Northern Ireland that morning via ferry from Scotland.

The detective said that officers observed as a silver Peugeot car being driven by Stephen Currie pulled up alongside the lorry.

He told the court that 40kgs of cannabis resin, 1kg of cocaine and a barrel of benzocaine were removed from the cab of the lorry and placed in the boot of the car.

The detective said that, at the same time, police stopped Paul Currie as he left an address in Cookstown. Officers seized £2,000 in cash and two mobile phones from his vehicle, while a police dog uncovered £80,000 cash from inside the house.

During further searches, £3,000 cash and three mobile phones were seized from Paul Currie’s home address.

A property in Desertmartin rented by Stephen Currie was also searched and police uncovered 11kgs of cannabis resin, a vacuum-packing machine, 3kgs of herbal cannabis, grinders, weighing scales and rolls of clear plastic.

Nothing was seized after a search of Mr Loughlin’s property in Kesh, the detective told the court.

He said that initial enquiries of the various mobile phones showed that, in the days preceding the incident, there had been several contacts between Paul Currie and Darren Loughlin, and also between Paul and Stephen Currie.

However, the detective added that there had been no contact via phone between Darren Loughlin and Stephen Currie at that stage.

Objecting to bail, he told the court that police believe that all three men were part of an organised crime gang suspected of bringing “large quantities” of drugs into Northern Ireland and distributing them across the province.

The detective said the 1kg of cocaine had a street value of £60,000, but when cut with the mixing agent it would have a potential value of £1.5 million.

He added that the 50kgs of cannabis resin was valued at £500,000, while the 3kgs of herbal cannabis was worth £40,000.

During police interview, the detective said Mr Loughlin had admitted that he was a lorry driver and had been travelling along the A4 road towards Ballygawley on Saturday. However, he denied all knowledge of the drugs and said he did not know his co-accused.

Warning of the possibility of further offences if any of the defendants were released, the detective told the court that police believe the criminal gang had taken an “extreme financial hit” because of the seizure.

He said that police were also concerned about possible interference with witnesses in the case.

Applying for bail, defence barrister Mr Fox told the court that his client was a married father-of-three who had no previous record of any relevance and a strong base in his local community.

While conceding there was a prima facie case against Mr Loughlin, the barrister argued that the 39-year-old was not a “principal player” and any value he had to the alleged criminal gang had ended when he was arrested.

Dismissing concerns about re-offending, Mr Fox said that his client’s only use had allegedly been as a “courier” whose value was as a person not known to police.

The barrister said that his family had attended court and were all “shocked” that he had been arrested.

Describing Mr Loughlin as the “main breadwinner” with a substantial mortgage to be paid, Mr Fox said the family home could be lost if he remained in custody.

He also said that the defendant was “extremely concerned” for the health of his wife and was struggling with the prospect of custody.

The barrister added that his client would be willing to abide by “severe” bail conditions such was his desperation to get back into the family set-up.

Refusing bail due to the risk of further offences, district judge, Nigel Broderick, observed that there was “sufficient evidence” on which to charge Mr Loughlin.

The judge said that anyone who involved themselves in the illegal possession and importation of drugs could expect to be dealt with vigorously by the courts.

Mr Broderick remanded the defendant in custody to appear via videolink at Dungannon Magistrates Court on Wednesday, December 7.