Two men appear at a special sitting of Derry Magistrates Court after drugs worth £280,000 are seized in the city

Two men have appeared in a Derry court in connection with the seizure of £280,000 worth of drugs in the city.

The two men appeared at a special sitting of Derry Magistrates Court this afternoon.

The charges they faced are in connection with the seizure of £280,000 worth of herbal cannabis (pictured) and £10,400 cash when police stopped a car at Trench Road in Derry and a van on the Toome bypass on Thursday evening.

Christopher Lavy, 25, from Harper’s Quay, and Michael Hughes, 40, from Oldtown Lane, Annalong, County Down, faced a series of drugs charges as well as possessing criminal property.

The drugs were found in the car, which was being driven by Lavy, while the money was recovered from the van which was being driven by Hughes.

Lavy was also charged with cultivating cannabis after a ‘cannabis factory’ was found at his flat during a follow-up search at his flat.

Police said the drugs in the flat had an estimated value of £16,000.

Both men were remanded in custody to appear at Derry Magistrates Court again on September 29.