A 34-year-old man has been remanded in custody after police found cocaine with an estimated street value of £200,000 hidden in a van in County Down.
Liam McAnoy from Prospect Park, Belfast was stopped on the A1 near Hillsborough on Friday.
A police officer told Lisburn Magistrates' Court that two kilos of the drug were found in a panel behind the driver's seat.
Mr McAnoy denied having any knowledge of the drugs.
During the operation on Friday, police also seized Mr McAnoy's phone which had a text telling him to meet a man at the entrance of a supermarket at Drogheda in the Republic of Ireland.
The court also heard that while the accused was being held another text came from the same number saying:"Are you happy with the paint job pal".
Police opposed bail because they believe at least three other people are involved in the drugs find.
They also believe the accused, who told police he was driving to the Republic of Ireland to pay off a £1,500 drugs debt, could re-offend.
The judge remanded Mr McAvoy into custody for four weeks and told the court: "He must have been trusted to be driving a van with a stash of this value."
- Published10 October 2015
