21/8/2013; David Gill leaves the Criminal courts of Justice in the back of a Garda Van. Picture credit; Damien Eagers / Irish Independent

A GAA club player is one of two men charged in connection with the seizure of more than €600,000 worth of cannabis in Dublin.

David Gill (38) and Polish national Rafal Chylinski (29) were arrested following a planned operation by gardai from the Garda National Drugs Unit (GNDU), supported by the National Surveillance Unit (NSU), the Organised Crime Unit (OCU) and local drugs units.

Judge Michael Walsh remanded Gill in custody with consent to cash bail until next Tuesday.

Defence lawyer Edel Gilligan said Gill's mother was willing to provide an independent surety for him but she was too upset to come to court on Friday evening.

Gardai did not object to bail for Chylinski and he was remanded on bail to October.

Gill, of Top of the Hill, Leopardstown Road, Sandyford, Dublin 16 appeared before Dublin District Court charged with two counts of possession of cannabis as well as having the drug for sale or supply.

The alleged incidents took place at Dale Road in Stillorgan and on Clonsilla Road in Blanchardstown.

Chylinski, Millstream Court, Mill Road, Ennis, Co Clare, is facing single counts of possession of cannabis and having the drug for sale or supply at Kylemore Road, Ballyfermot.

The offences are under the misuse of drugs act.

Detective Garda Tim Casey said Gill was arrested at Blanchardstown Garda Station and charged shortly before 2pm by Sergeant Morgan O'Connor. He was handed true copies of the charge sheets and in reply after caution he said "I understand".

Gda Casey said gardai were looking for cash bail as well as a number of bail conditions as the alleged value of the drug was more than €600,000.

The garda also claimed Gill was caught "red-handed".

Defence lawyer Edel Gilligan said Gill's mother was willing to help him, but she was upset and unable to attend court.

Judge Walsh remanded Gill in custody with consent to bail in his own bond of €10,000 of which €5,000 must be cash. The judge also sought an independent surety of €20,000, of which €10,000 must be cash.

The court heard Gill is a married man with three children. He is not working.

In relation to Chylinski, Detective Garda Jerome Twomey said he had no objection to bail.

As part of his bail, Chylinski must surrender his passport to gardai and sign on twice a week at his local garda station.

Judge Walsh remanded Chylinski on bail to a date in October for DPP's directions on the charges.

A total of 24kg of cannabis with an estimated street value of €600,000 was found in three searches in Dublin on Thursday afternoon.

A car carrying three men was stopped on Kylemore Road in Ballyfermot, resulting in the discovery of 1kg of cannabis.

A van was subsequently stopped and searched on Clonsilla Road, resulting in the seizure of approximately 8.5kg cannabis.

And in a follow-up search of a premises on Dale Road, Stillorgan, gardai recovered some 15kg of the drug.

Two other men have been released without charge and a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions

Irish Independent