North Belfast man kept £180,000 of cocaine 'under duress'
A man has claimed that he was keeping up to £180,000 worth of cocaine at his north Belfast home under duress, a court has been told.
Terence Jamison, 56, was arrested after police seized the drugs at his Kilcoole Park home last Friday.
More than three kilograms of suspected cocaine, a quantity of diazepam, 11 mobile phones, memory cards and a cocaine press were recovered.
Mr Jamison is charged with possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply.
He is further accused of being concerned in the supply and production of cocaine, and having Class C drugs.
Bail was refused due to the risk of re-offending or interfering with witnesses in the case.
An investigating detective said Mr Jamison claimed he borrowed money before men arrived at his home last month with a package containing the suspected drugs.
She told the court that despite alleging to have acted under duress, the defendant gave no more information on the circumstances.
The cocaine recovered from the property has an estimated street value of between £120,000 to 180,000, the officer added.
A defence lawyer said that his client, a self-employed joiner, told police about the presence of the drugs when they arrived at his door.
"He has made the case all along that he was asked to keep the items in the house," the lawyer said.
However, denying bail, a judge at Belfast Magistrates Court cited the potential for other offences or interference with the investigation.
"He hasn't identified these other individuals," she said.
Jamison was remanded in custody to appear again by video-link next month.