Woman (26) appears in court after Letterkenny drugs raid

A woman has appeared in court following a drugs raid in Letterkenny.

Jade Smith was brought before Judge Ciaran Liddy at Buncrana District Court on Thursday morning.

Smith, a 26-year-old, with an address at Charlestown Place, Finglas in Dublin, was arrested when detectives and armed gardai swooped on an apartment in Letterkenny on Wednesday.

Gardai found suspected cocaine valued at €2,800 and suspected cannabis with a value of €1,200. A quantity of cash, €1,900 and £230 sterling, was also seized in the operation.

Garda Deirdre Connolly gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Smith.

Following her arrest, Smith was converted to Letterkenny Garda Station, where she was charged at 6.53pm on Wednesday. Garda Connolly told the court that Smith made no reply when charged. 

Smith was charged that at Grand Central, Canal Road, Letterkenny, she did have in her possession a controlled drug, namely cocaine, for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying to others. 

Smith was also charged that she did have in her possession a controlled drug, namely cannabis, for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying to others

The charges are contrary to section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977 and contrary to section 27 (3) of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977 as substituted by section 6 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1984.

She was also charged with the possession of cannabis, an offence contrary to section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977 as substituted by section 6 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1984.

Detectives from the Donegal Division Drugs Unit, aided by the Armed Support Unit, were involved in the raid under Operation Tara, the focus of which gardai say is “to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels, international, national, and local, involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production and local sale and supply of controlled drugs”.

The accused, who was represented by solicitor Mr Rory O’Brien, did not speak during her court appearance.

Sergeant Jim Collins confirmed to the court that bail conditions were agreed and Judge Liddy granted bail in Smith’s own bond of €1,000, nil cash.

Legal aid was granted to Mr O’Brien and the matter was adjourned to April 7 for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

A man in his 20s arrested as part of the same operation was released without charge.