A man accused of posting almost £30,000 worth of herbal cannabis from a Post Office in Newry has been denied bail.
Alexei Stylianou, 30, with an address of Shipbuilding Way in London, appeared at Newry Magistrates’ Court, via videolink from maghaberry, on Tuesday accused of possessing a Class B drug, possessiion of Class B with intent to supply and being being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs.
The court heard that at 3.42pm on Friday, October 6, police received a call from the Post Office on Hill Street in Newry reporting that a man had submitted a parcel – which had a strong smell of cannabis emanating from it – for delivery.
Police arrived at the Post Office and examined the parcel before confirming that it contained three vacuum sealed packages, which appeared to contain suspected herbal cannabis.
The parcel was seized and its contents were taken away for forensic examination.
Police obtained CCTV and still images of the male suspect from the CCTV systems within the Post Office and the SuperValu shop floor.
This footage and still shows a male enter the store and the Post Office carrying a white parcel. The man then queues for the Post Office and lodges the parcel with staff.
The suspected cannabis was submitted for forensic testing and has been confirmed as such, with a confirmed weight of 2.522 kilograms, with an approximate value of £29,400.
The white box and three drugs packages and wrapping found between them were also submitted for fingerprint analysis.
Fingerprints belonging to Stylianou were found on the white parcel and the wrapping within the white parcel.
Police believe the defendant is the same male seen on the CCTV posting the package.
The defendant was arrested in Wales and brought to the custody suite there, and he was then further arrested by PSNI officers who transported him to Lurgan custody suite.
He was interviewed, and he provided no comment to all questions before being charged with the offences. He made no reply to the charges.
A police constable told the court: “I have been asked to oppose bail in relation to this defendant, and due to concerns that he has no connections, nor address, in Northern Ireland we do deem him to be a flight risk.
She added: “From his criminal record, he has been flagged for previous offending whilst on bail, and police do believe that there is that risk of flight. He is a dual national, and he states he does have a British passport, but he could also apply for a Greek Cypriot passport. We do just be fearful that he will not adhere to bail conditions and will attend court.”
Stylianou’s defence stated there was a cash surety of £10,000 available and that he had an address in England he could be bailed to.
He added that Stylianou was not a flight risk given his ties to the UK, in that he has a a partner two children, aged 4 and 18-months-old.
“He’s a self employed electrician and he instructs me that he has an interview in London this week for a job with the council.
“He has strong ties in the UK; he mightn’t have strong ties here but he wouldn’t be the first person that would be released on bail to an address in England. He lives in Newham. He could report to the police station there.
“The level of drugs means this is likely to go to Crown Court, which could take 12 months.”
However, District Judge Eamon King denied bail on flight risk and risk of further offending.
The case was adjourned for four weeks.
