Two in court over £1.2m cannabis factory

Two men have appeared in court after a cannabis factory was discovered in Strabane, County Tyrone.

Dorjan Ago, 28, and Oktavian Shkombi, 24, appeared before Strabane Magistrates' Court on Thursday charged with drugs offences.

Both men are charged with cultivating a cannabis plant, unlawfully possessing the class B drug and with possession of the drug with intent to supply.

A PSNI detective constable told the court the estimated value of the cannabis seized at a property in Strabane on Wednesday was £1.2m.

During a short hearing, where an Albanian interpreter was used, both men acknowledged they could understand the charges and that they were helping to grow the plants.

However they added they "did not know anything else".

The court was told the men were arrested on Wednesday following the search of a property on Knockroe Road in Strabane.

The police officer said the property was searched under warrant and it contained a cannabis factory with more than 500 plants.

A separate container was also searched and contained 105 kilogrammes of herbal cannabis in vacuum-packed bags.

The court was told that both defendants were arrested in the site where the cannabis was growing.

Both men were remanded in custody to appear again on 31 July.