During interviews the accused claimed he had arrived at the house an hour earlier to collect two e-bikes
06:00, 16 May 2026
Suspected Class B controlled drugs and cash seized by detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Organised Crime Branch, following a search in the Maryville Street area of South Belfast on Thursday 14th May(Image: PSNI)
A suspected drugs boss found at the scene of a £200,000 cannabis seizure in south Belfast was only there to collect e-bikes, a court heard on Friday.
Police arrested Mark Morrison, 22, as they recovered the consignment and up to £50,000 in cash from a house at Maryville Street on Thursday.
Morrison, of Madrid Street in the city, faces charges of possessing, encouraging and being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs, along with a further offence of having criminal property.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard he was present along with an 18-year-old co-accused when PSNI Organised Crime Branch officers raided the property. Both men were detained after they allegedly attempted to escape by a rear door.
An investigating detective revealed that two cardboard boxes located in the living room contained 18 kilos of cannabis.
“They have an estimated street value of at least £200,000,” he said.
Police also discovered between £40,000 and £50,000 in cash on a kitchen counter. During interviews Morrison claimed he had arrived at the house an hour earlier to collect two e-bikes. He stated his intention was to sell them on for his co-accused and receive £50 payment for each of them.
Morrison denied knowing anything about the seized drugs or cash, but admitted they had smoked cannabis together on the premises.
A further small quantity found in the kitchen was his for personal use, police were told. Morrison alleged his co-accused left the property at one point, returning a short time later with two large boxes.
Opposing bail, the detective said: “Mr Morrison is suspected to be a senior, controlling member of an organised crime group, heavily involved in the supply of controlled drugs.”
A defence lawyer argued he was in the back yard along with e-bikes when police arrived.
Solicitor Pearse MacDermott insisted Morrison planned to sell them on for a co-accused he had met on social media.
“There is no DNA or fingerprints, nothing to connect him to these boxes,” Mr MacDermott submitted.
District Judge Steven Keown ordered Morrison to be remanded in custody until June 12.
He ruled: “This looks like a large-scale operation, bail is refused due to the risk of re-offending and flight.”
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