A warehouse worker has been charged after gardai uncovered €1.36m worth of cannabis shipped to Ireland from Spain in a container load of oranges.
Father of three, Dawid Zajac, 38, an address at Galtrim, Summerhill, Co. Meath, was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis on March 31 and that he had it for sale or supply at Cornstown, Ashbourne, Co. Dublin.
It followed an operation by officers attached to the Revenue Customs Service, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, Coolock and Raheny District Drugs Units and the Meath Divisional Drugs Unit.
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Mr Zajac, originally from Poland but living in Ireland for 16 years, appeared before Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court yesterday/today (Mon).
Bail was set in his bond of €20,000, of which half must be lodged, and an independent surety with €20,000 must be approved.
He was remanded in custody until it is taken up and will face his next hearing on Thursday at Cloverhill District Court.
Detective Garda Paula Carter told the court the accused made "no reply" to the charges, and she objected to bail due to the seriousness of the case.
She told the contested bail hearing, "€1.36M worth of cannabis was concealed in crates of oranges shipped from Spain to Dublin Port".
She alleged the accused paid a €5,000 customs fee for a container to be released from the port and that he was in the warehouse when a logistics company delivered the crates.
She also told the court he helped off-load them.
It was also alleged that he had an invoice for the shipment on his phone.
The detective agreed with defence solicitor Jenny McGeever that the accused did not have the trappings of wealth and that his phone and passport had been seized.
She accepted that the a lived with his partner and children, was in receipt of the Housing Assistance Payment, and had the presumption of innocence.
Directions from the Director of Public Prosecution are awaited, the court heard.
Mr Zajac told the court he would abide by bail conditions and said he had left Ireland twice since 2007 to spend Christmas in Poland once and for a week's holiday to Latvia with his partner.
He agreed to obey any terms imposed by the court.
Pleading for bail, Ms McGeever said her client has lived at the same address for four years and has "strong roots" here.
Describing it as a "substantial matter", she held that bail with conditions could be granted.
Legal aid was granted.
On taking up bail, the accused must sign on daily at Trim Garda station, remain contactable by phone, and notify gardai of any address change.
Another man was charged earlier.
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