A man extradited from Spain was remanded into custody in Belfast today accused of involvement in a drug trafficking operation.
Gareth Lee Nugent, 40, appeared at the city’s Magistrates Court to face a total of 91 charges.
Nugent, of unknown address, was initially detained in October last year under a European Arrest Warrant and returned to Northern Ireland on Tuesday following extradition proceedings.
The alleged offences were identified as part of a PSNI Organised Crime Unit investigation into the EncroChat communications platform.
An encrypted phone network was used by groups to plan drug importation, move money and other illegal activities.
Nugent is wanted to stand trial on multiple counts of supplying or being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis.
He is also accused of a series of offences relating to acquiring, converting and transferring criminal property – including quantities of cash and 30 Rolex watches – known to be the proceeds of drug trafficking.
A further charge involves conspiring to assist in the trafficking of narcotics outside the United Kingdom.
The alleged offences were committed on dates between April 2019 and June 2020.
Nugent did not apply for bail and no further details were disclosed during the brief court hearing.
Prosecutors indicated that a date for a preliminary enquiry will be confirmed in two weeks time.
District Judge Steven Keown remanded the accused in custody until January 28.