'Trusted associate' of drug dealing operation is jailed
The man was jailed when he appeared at Bishop Street courthouse on Monday
- Published
A man described in court as "a trusted associate" in a drug supply operation has been jailed for 14 months.
Stephen Mooney, of Forest Park in Londonderry, will spend the same amount of time on licence after he admitted having class B drugs with intent to supply in May 2023.
The 39-year-old also pleaded guilty to having criminal property totalling £45,000 in cash, on two dates in March and May 2023.
Londonderry Crown Court was told police observed a drug transfer where a courier brought cannabis and Mooney gave him money on 17 May 2023.
Police arrested both men at the scene and recovered drugs and £17,660 in cash.
In a separate incident, the court was told £29,355 in cash was found in a tool box in a vehicle driven by Mooney.
Judge Neil Rafferty KC said Mooney was "a trusted associate" of a drug supplier and "played a significant role in the commercial supply of class B drugs".
He said Mooney had waived his right to a pre-sentence report as he realised that a custodial sentence was inevitable.