Seven men and a woman appeared in court at Ballymena, Co Antrim, yesterday on heroin charges, following a drugs operation at housing estates in the town early on Wednesday.
Bail applications were made on behalf of some of the accused, but were turned down, and all the defendants, who had Ballymena addresses, were remanded in custody for a week.
Mr Brendan Phillips (29), of Carniny Court, is charged with supplying and being concerned in the supply of diamorphine, and conspiring with another person to supply the class A drug.
Mr Phillips's mother, Ms Patricia Ann Platt (47), of the same address, faces four charges of being concerned in the supply of diamorphine, and conspiring to supply the drug.
Mr James Michael Murphy (27), of Victoria Park, is accused of possessing and supplying heroin, and conspiring to supply the drug.
Mr David Adam Brown (27), of Toome Road, is charged with two counts of supplying diamorphine, being concerned in its supply, and conspiring to supply the drug.
Mr Colin Davidson (28), of Dunclug Park, is charged with two counts of supplying heroin, and being concerned in its supply.
Mr Todd Edgar Curry (26), with an address at the Lighthouse Hostel, Linenhall Street, is accused of being concerned in the supply of heroin, and Mr Kevin John McConnell (29), of Dunvale, was charged with offering to supply heroin.
At a special court later, Mr John Dunlop (27), of Sandown Park, was charged with three counts of supplying heroin. All the alleged offences took place between April 23rd and July 22nd this year.
A man was detained yesterday in Scotland as part of a major RUC investigation into heroin trafficking in Northern Ireland and was brought to the North for questioning. A second man was also arrested in Ballymena yesterday.