MAN IN CUSTODY AFTER €1.5M OF DRUGS SEIZED
A MAN has appeared in court — charged over the seizure of €1.5M worth of cannabis and cocaine. Albanian native Klevist Shehaj (24) of Liffey Mill in Newbridge, Co Kildare, appeared before Judge Desmond Zaidan at Naas District Court, charged over the incident yesterday. The court heard that Mr Shehaj was stopped by gardai on the M1 in Slane, Co Meath on May 7 — and his vehicle was searched during the course of what officers said was an intelligence led operation. There, gardai stated they recovered €39,750 in cash inside a “concealment” in the rear of the vehicle —
Arrest
that officers recovered approximately €1.1m worth of cannabis — and €420,000 worth of suspected cocaine. Officers also uncovered “large quantities of mixing agents” Garda Harty said. Garda Harty then laid out the four charges that Mr Shehaj stands accused of — namely two charges under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act and two charges of Section 3. Judge Zaidan concluded that having considered all the evidence presented — he was not granting the accused bail. He remanded him into custody — setting a date for the next hearing for next Thursday. and a further €1,200 in cash from the defendant’s wallet. Following this stop and search gardai searched three addresses in the Newbridge area — and recovered the €1.5M worth of drugs. Giving evidence of arrest, charge and caution, Garda Evanna Harty told the court that the accused “provided a false ID” to gardai when he was stopped — something he later admitted to when interviewed. In one of the addresses searched, Garda Harty stated