Derry man charged in connection with the finding of £20,000 worth of cocaine valued remanded

A man has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrates' Court today charged in connection with the finding of cocaine valued at £20,000.

Christopher McCauley (40) of Drumleck Drive in Derry appeared charged with possessing cocaine with intent to supply on January 16.

He was also charged with possessing cocaine and cannabis on the same date. 

The defendant was further charged with concerned in the supply of cocaine between a date unknown until January 16 2025.

A police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail. 

The court heard police forced entry to a premises 'associated with the defendant' to carry out a search. 

No one was present at the time but police found a safe, 120 grammes of cocaine, some cannabis and other drug paraphernalia. 

Attempts were made to find the defendant but were unsuccessful but eventually his solicitor made contact with police and he handed himself in yesterday January 22.

He told police he had 'lost control ' of his property that had become a party house and he had no idea who was coming and going from the property. 

Initially he claimed to know nothing about the safe but later said he may have agreed to keep it while intoxicated. 

The police officer said she believed that McCauley was involved in the supply of drugs and he must be 'trusted' for such an amount of cocaine to be there.

The court was told that the defendant claimed he had lost his phone. 

Bail was opposed due to the risk of reoffending and also that the defendant was a flight risk.

Defence solicitor Nicole Cadden said there were no trappings of wealth in the defendant's property.

She said after he handed himself in he sat for five hours in the inquiry office before being arrested which she said wasn't the actions of someone likely to flee.

District Judge Barney McElholm said that this incident was 'somewhat bizarre ' as mobile phones were very important in this type of offending.

He said McCauley had handed himself in 'when it suited him or maybe suited others.'

The judge said it was 'all too coincidental 'and refused bail saying there was a risk of reoffending. 

He added that while it was early in the investigation if someone 'found' the phone that could be a factor. 

McCauley was remanded in custody to appear again on February 20.