Five remanded in custody over drug charge

Five men have appeared in court accused of conspiring to bring more than 130 kilos of cannabis to the Island.

Liverpool men Stephen Joseph James Alty, Francis Richard Dunne and his brother Liam Dunne appeared alongside Jamie Smith of Maple Avenue in Onchan and Darren Noel Dooley of Pulrose.

It’s said all five were members of an organised crime gang which plotted to smuggle cannabis into the Island using secret compartments in cars.

Prosecuting, James Robinson told the court two seizures made by police last year were worth more than half a million pounds and phone records showed the men had been in touch with each other and the smugglers.

He said one of those convicted over the operation had told police he’d been forced to drive the car by Francis Dunne after his mother’s life was threatened.

A raid on Mr Dunne’s Vauxhall home unearthed £30,000 in Manx and English notes as well as a three-foot machete.

All five men were remanded in custody by magistrates, and will appear again on February 28.