Man appears in court after £75,000 Ballykelly drugs find

William Kelly, a 35-year-old from Shackleton Crescent in Ballykelly, appeared in Limavady Magistrate’s Court this morning (February 12, 2014).

The court heard that police conducted a search at the defendant’s home address following the interception of a package, coming from China and containing an estimated £40,000 to £50,000 worth of the illegal drug known as mephedrone. The package had Kelly’s name, email and home address on it.

The court was also told that upon searching the defendant’s home, police uncovered a ‘cannabis factory’ with 153 plants, aged between six and eight weeks, and a “small amount of white powder” which turned out to be cocaine after testing.

A police officer connected Kelly to charges of possessing 153 cannabis plants, possessing Class B drugs with intent to supply, possessing cocaine and cannabis, and dishonestly using electricity on February 11, 2014. The officer said that the interception of the package containing mephedrone is a “separate matter that is still being investigated.”

The officer opposed bail, saying that the defendant may fail to appear for court. He added that there was a ‘risk of re-offending’ if Kelly were to be released on bail, even under curfew, because the illegal activities were carried out at his home address. The officer said that there was a further risk of re-offending because the defendant may attempt to recoup any losses. Under questioning from the defence solicitor, the officer added: “He (the defendant) said he has spent £1,000 to set up the cannabis factory. I’m aware of what he told me yesterday that he has smoked cannabis for the past 20 years.”

The court also heard that the defendant “smokes cannabis when he consumes alcohol and vice versa”.

District Judge Liam McNally granted the defendant his own bail, set at £500, and a surety of £1,000. The defendant was also ordered to surrender his passport and observe a curfew at his home address between the hours of 10pm and 8am. He has been further ordered not to consume alcohol or any un-prescribed drugs. He is to appear again at court in Londonderry on March 6.