Three women were accused in Belfast yesterday of a multimillion-pound drugs laundering operation. One of them, Ms Caroline Zara Lees (39), collapsed in the dock at the Magistrates' Court. The other defendants are Ms Norma Elder (50), of Knockburn Crescent, Lisburn, Co Antrim, and Ms Nicola Bass (37), of Queen's Avenue, Magherafelt, Co Derry. Ms Elder's daughter, Diane, also collapsed in the public benches and was carried outside by friends. They were charged with laundering the alleged criminal profits of Mr Derek Jones, a 58-year-old Liverpool-born American citizen. He is in custody on charges linked to the seizure of £16 million worth of cannabis in the Republic last year. Ms Elder was also charged with inducing others to import the cannabis.
The drugs were found by gardai when they boarded the Plongeur Wisky after it put into Kilrush, Co Clare, with engine trouble on the way from Gibraltar to the UK. The boat's captain was jailed for six years.
Ms Lees, a company director, of Ardmoneen Court, Magherafelt, returned to the dock after a doctor certified she was fit to be charged provided she was allowed to sit. All three were released on £15,000 bail each and ordered to surrender their passports. They were remanded until September 12th when Mr Derek Jones is also due back in court.