Portadown stock car racer to stand trial on drugs charges

A stockcar racer is to stand trial accused of smuggling nearly £1.5 million worth of cocaine and heroin from Holland to Northern Ireland.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th Jan 2018, 14:57 BST
Updated 4th Jan 2018, 16:02 BST
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Neil Davison faces 23 charges related to a drugs seizure at Belfast’s docks area in September 2016.

The 29-year-old was arrested after exiting the Cairnryan ferry in a BMW X5 transporting his race car back from Rotterdam, a previous court heard.

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Cocaine with an estimated street value of £960,000, heroin worth £500,000, and cannabis resin valued at £2,000 was discovered under the floor of the steel trailer.

Davison, of Cloncarrish Road in Portadown, appeared before magistrates in Belfast on Thursday for a preliminary enquiry hearing.

He is charged with importing and possessing Class A and Class B drugs with intent to supply.

Further counts include having more than 330,000 euros in criminal property, and converting some amounts into sterling.

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The alleged offences were committed on dates between February and September 2016.

Davison spoke only to confirm he understood the charges against him.

His lawyer did not contest a Crown lawyer’s submissions that he has a case to answer.

Davison declined to give evidence of call witnesses at this stage.

Granting a prosecution application, District Judge Nigel Broderick returned the defendant for Crown Court trial.

Mr Broderick agreed to release Davison on continuing bail.

Related topics:HollandPortadownNorthern IrelandBelfast