Four charged over cannabis factory
Four Chinese nationals were charged today in connection with the discovery of a cannabis factory in Dublin last Friday.
Gardaí attached to the Sundrive Road Drugs Unit searched a unit at St James's Industrial Park, in Dublin 8 on the afternoon of April 15 last. During the course of the search they found cannabis herb and cannabis plants with a street value of €250,000.
Today He Cao (aged 32) with an address at Garville Avenue, in Rathgar, in Dublin, Jin Chang (aged 27) and Yung Yu (aged 26) who are of no fixed address and mother of three Ting Ting Chen (aged 28) with an address at Temple View Close, in Clarehall, in Dublin, appeared at Dublin District Court.
All four have been charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act for cultivating cannabis, at Unit 3, at St James Industrial Park. Mr Yu faces an additional charge for remaining in State after expiry of date of permission.
Ms Chen was the only defendant to make a bail application for bail. Judge Hugh O'Donnell also noted that there was an objection by the State.
A Garda Sergeant said that this was based on the seriousness of the charges and fears that Ms Chen could be a “flight risk.”
The court also heard that she had been caught “red-handed.”
Defence solicitor Niall O'Connor asked the judge to note that his client had three children and that she had been residing in the state for the past 11 years. She also worked part time in a barber's shop and had “never been in trouble before.”
Judge O'Donnell agreed to grant bail to Ms Chen in her own bond of €1,000 on condition that she surrendered her passport and did not apply for a substitute one, sign on daily at Coolock Garda station and notify gardai if she planned to change her address.
She was remanded on bail to appear again in June to allow for directions from the DPP to be obtained.
Her co-defendants were remanded in custody by consent to appear again at Cloverhill District Court on April 21 next.
Legal aid was granted to all of the defendants.
