30-year-old Xiaochen Han, of Griffith’s Close, Birmingham, appeared in custody at Cork Circuit Criminal Court at Anglesea Street in Cork, and his mother attended the hearing.[1] Han was living in the United Kingdom and is from China.[1] He confirmed a guilty plea at Cork Circuit Criminal Court and was remanded in custody for sentencing in February 2027.[1] Defence senior counsel Jane Hyland asked for a probation report so his background history and circumstances could be outlined before sentencing.[1] Judge Helen Boyle ordered a probation report and a prison governor’s report.[1] The court extended free legal aid for a Mandarin interpreter for further consultations.[1] Sentencing was adjourned until 24 February 2027 with Han remanded in custody.[1]
A court heard that 80 kilos of cannabis with a street value of €1.6 million were discovered after officers went to a storage unit at Little Island in July.[2] Han pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and possession for sale or supply, where the drug value exceeded €13,000, the threshold for a 10-year minimum sentence unless exceptional circumstances apply.[1] The charges refer to 6 July at U Store It, Unit 24, Euro Business Park, Little Island, County Cork.[1] The case involved a joint investigation by the Cork City Divisional Drugs Unit, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, and Revenue and Customs, through a controlled delivery to the business-park unit.[1]
Detective Garda Derry O’Brien said gardaí had objected to bail because of the seriousness of the allegations and their belief that Han was a flight risk with no ties to Ireland.[1] Gardaí said Han had no ties to the jurisdiction and admitted travelling from the United Kingdom to Belfast and by train to Cork.[1] He travelled that way to avoid flagging immigration at airports because he had no visa and had entered the country illegally.[1]