Cannabis worth £220,000 was discovered hidden inside a van stopped at Belfast Port which was on its way to deliver a sauna, a court has heard.
Investigators claimed the seized drugs were bound for the Republic as part of a smuggling operation run by a Lithuanian crime gang.
Details emerged as a suspected “trusted lieutenant” arrested at the scene on Sunday was remanded into custody.
Paulius Andrulis (36), of Langworthy Road in Manchester, appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged with importing, possessing and being concerned in making an offer to supply Class B drugs.
The Lithuanian national was driving the van stopped by Border Police and National Crime Agency officers after it arrived on a ferry from England.
A sauna was being transported in the back of the vehicle at the time.
Further inspections uncovered 27.5 kilos of cannabis, with an estimated street value of £220,000, located in concealed compartments.
During interviews, Andrulis claimed it was the fifth trip he had made for another Lithuanian employer he called “Sprite”.
All of the previous journeys were also to deliver saunas to the Republic, according to his account.
Opposing bail, an investigator alleged Andrulis is linked to a Lithuanian-based organised crime gang suspected of overseeing the smuggling racket.
“When he delivers the saunas to Dublin it is to Lithuanians,” the officer told the court.
“There is a common thread running through this, we believe he would be a trusted lieutenant in that due to the value of the drugs.”
Andrulis denies knowing anything about the drugs found concealed in his van.
Forensic tests are still to be carried out on the seized haul of cannabis, the court heard.
Defence solicitor Eoghan McKenna argued his client could be released under orders to report to police on a daily basis.
Bail was refused amid concerns Andrulis could re-offend, flee, or interfere with the ongoing investigation.
Remanding him in custody until July 7, District Judge Steven Keown highlighted the scale of the suspected racket.
He added: “In my view, the full extent of the operation is not yet known, but involves cross-border movement of drugs.”
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