A Penrith man has appeared in court accused of involvement in a large scale drug trafficking enterprise after police allegedly seized a kilo of cocaine potentially worth more than £80,000.
Andrew Graham Bell, 35, is one of two men who were charged after an incident in Penrith on Friday.
Bell and that second man, 34-year-old Eyup Bayram, appeared separately in front of deputy district judge Roger Lowe at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court this afternoon.
One charge faced by Bell alleges that he was in possession of 1.074kg of the class A drug cocaine, with intent to supply it to another, at his Penrith home on January 17.
A second charge alleges the possession of criminal property — £22,880 cash.
No pleas were indicated by Bell to either charge when he appeared in front of the judge.
Bayram, meanwhile, stands accused of being a courier in what the court heard was alleged to be a large scale drug trafficking enterprise.
Bayram — assisted in court by a Turkish interpreter — pleaded not guilty two separate charges which were read to him by a legal advisor.
One alleges that he was concerned in the supply of a kilo of cocaine to Bell on January 17.
A second alleges the possession of criminal property – £26,940 cash.
Both Bell and Bayram, who gave his address at Lansdowne Road, Bournemouth, were remanded in custody by the deputy district judge, after bail applications made by their respective solicitors were refused.
The two men are due to appear at Carlisle Crown Court on February 21 when a judge will make directions for the progress of the case at a plea and trial preparation hearing.
