Police seize heroin in Cookstown search

Sentencing in the case of a County Tyrone man found with a heroin wrap “in the buttock area” was deferred for four months to monitor his behaviour.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Nov 2020, 09:52 BST
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Fernando Rocha (38) of Castle Hill, Dungannon, admitted possessing the drug on November 2 last year.

Prosecution counsel told East Tyrone Magistrates Court, sitting in Omagh, on Friday, the police also uncovered heroin during a search of a kitchen in a property at Union Street in Cookstown.

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He said they seized a mobile phone and arrested the defendant for possessing heroin.

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The lawyer said the drug amounted to approximately 2.78 grams with an estimated street value of £300.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan told the prosecutor that heroin charges should not be prosecuted in the Magistrates Court as the drug is a killer. He asked for his comments to be relayed back to the Public Prosecution Service.

Defence lawyer Blaine Nugent said Rocha had been struggling with his addiction but had progressed while resident in Holywell and working with the Community Addiction Team. “He is doing reasonably well and is trying to break the cycle of drug use,” he added.

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Judge Ranaghan deferred sentencing until March 5 next. He said he wanted to see if Rocha continued to engage with the addiction teams and did not re-offend.

He made an order for the destruction of the heroin.