A man has appeared in court charged with cultivating cannabis following the discovery of a cannabis factory in Craigavon yesterday (Monday 24 January).
Zlivinas Lokama, 27, with an address of Legahory Court in Craigavon, appeared charged with cultivating cannabis, possession of Class B with intent to supply, possession of criminal property, criminal damage, dishonestly using electricity and possession of a prohibited weapon at Armagh Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Newry, on Tuesday.
The charges come after a quantity of suspected Class B drugs with an estimated street value of £105,000 were recovered during a search in a property in the Legahory Court area.
As they were read, court heard that the alleged criminal damage related to an electric meter belonging to NIE and the charge of possessing a prohibited weapon referred to pepper spray.
Appearing via videolink from police custody, Lokama confirmed that he understood the charges he faced and was connected to the same by a constable.
Defence solicitor Richard Monteith made no question to the connection and informed court that no bail application was being made on his client’s behalf.
The solicitor described this as a “classic gardener case”. He stated that Lokama had arrived in Dublin four weeks ago but upon not being paid for work had the “worst encounter of his life” with another individual.
District Judge Bernie Kelly remanded the defendant in custody to appear via videolink on February 18.
Meanwhile, co-defendant Mindaugas Lengvinas, 30, of no fixed abode, was not produced due to isolation rules at another police station.
He was charged with cultivating cannabis, possession of Class B with intent to supply, criminal damage, dishonestly using electricity and possession of a prohibited weapon.
Defence counsel asked that his case was adjourned until January 28 for a bail application.
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