Man charged with €1.5m drugs haul 'ripped' up charges and threw them 'into a toilet'

David Raleigh

A Limerick man charged in connection with possession of over €1.5 million worth of drugs, tore up the charges against him and threw them in a toilet bowl, a court heard Saturday.

Jamie Long, (26), Thomond Student Village, Ballygrennan, Limerick, appeared before a special weekend sitting of Limerick District Court and was refused bail.

Gardaí told the bail hearing it was their belief Long was an “integral” part of an organised crime group supplying wholesale amounts of drugs into the Southern region.

Long was arrested last Wednesday, in the front seat of a white Ford transit van, at Kilbranish Drive, Woodview, Limerick, in possession of €70,000 worth of cocaine, it was heard.

In a follow-up search of another Ford transit van, parked at Long’s home address, gardaí allegedly recovered around €800,000 cocaine and around €700,000 cannabis.

Detective Garda Anthony Harnett, Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit, gave evidence in court of arresting and charging Long with three counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply, and three counts of possession of drugs for his own use.

Det Garda Harnett said Long did not reply to the charges, and when he was given a copy of the charges, they were “ripped up and thrown into the toilet by him”.

Detective Garda Harnett said part of his objection to bail was “based upon my belief that Jamie Long will continue to commit further serious crimes, including continuing to engage in the sale and supply of wholesale distribution of controlled drugs”.

“The charges are very serious offences, Jamie Long has admitted he was under duress to store and deliver vast amounts of cocaine and cannabis in order to pay off a drug debt that is in excess of €50,000,” alleged Det Garda Harnett.

“The applicant has stated he is addicted to cannabis and cocaine, and if given bail, it is my belief that he will undoubtedly engage in similar activity to address what is now an even greater debt due to the seizure of the (drugs).”

Det Garda Harnett further alleged that Long “is an integral part of an organised crime group who are at the forefront of suppliers of controlled substances in the Limerick region and further beyond”.

“He was entrusted to store, control and deliver huge amounts of cocaine and cannabis, and he has stated that he believes that harm will come to him if he fails to carry out the orders of the group, in which he operates, and which will now leave him in a more vulnerable position,” added Det Garda Harnett.

Det Garda Harnett said that when gardaí arrested Long, allegedly in possession of €70,000 of cocaine, they also found him in possession of a key to the second Ford transit van that was parked outside his home address.

Det Garda Harnett said investigating gardaí obtained a warrant to search the van, and using the key to open the van they found “11kg of cocaine, and 35 kg of cannabis” valued at around €1.5 million.

“Jamie Long was interviewed on eight occasions and made admissions to being a courier and storing drugs for which he had full control of,” alleged Det Garda Harnett.

“He also admitted that when stopped by gardaí he was in possession of €70,000 of cocaine and was to deliver it to an unnamed person,” continued Det Garda Harnett.

“He has stated that his DNA will be found on every individual pack of cannabis and cocaine that was seized from this vehicle,” the garda alleged.

Det Garda Harnett told the court it was his belief that Long “will attempt to leave the jurisdiction” if granted bail.

“He is a serious flight risk, he will attempt to evade justice given the opportunity,” the garda added.

Michael O’Donnell, solicitor for the accused, refuted the suggestion Long was a flight risk and told the court Long did not own a passport.

O’Donnell suggested the accused could sign on at a garda station daily, as well as keep to a curfew, “he has a partner who is pregnant at the moment”, added the solicitor.

O’Donnell said that an independent bail surety of “a substantial” amount - which would be fortified if any bail conditions were to be breached - was also available to the court. Judge Patricia Ryan said this would not be required.

Inspector Martyn Wallace, Henry Street Garda Station, reiterated the garda’s concerns if bail was granted.

Judge Patricia Ryan said she was “satisfied”, on hearing the evidence provided, to refuse bail.

Several members of Long’s family, who were present in court, and hugged him.

He was remanded into custody to appear before Limerick District Court via video-link on March 3rd.