Man appears in court after £1m suspected cocaine seizure

A man has appeared in court after police seized suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of £1m at a property in Dungannon, County Tyrone.

Thirty-year-old Aaron Hudson was arrested on Friday in the Cookstown area on suspicion of offences relating to drug supply and indecent images of children.

Hudson, with an address in Moorville, Stewartstown, appeared at Dungannon Magistrates' Court on Monday on a number of drug charges.

He faces additional charges including possessing criminal property, transferring criminal property, making indecent Images of children, possessing indecent images of children and attempting to pay for sexual services.

The drug charges include being concerned in the supply of Class A controlled drugs, possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of Class B controlled drugs.

During the hearing, Hudson spoke only to confirm he understood the charges against him.

A detective told the court she could connect him to the charges and that, on the 20 January 2026, Hudson was stopped while driving in Armagh by police officers and searched.

The officer told the court that during this search two mobile phones were seized and a notebook.

She said Hudson was "not arrested at this time and was permitted to leave the scene".

The court heard that the two mobile phones were examined, and the officer said "there was clear evidence found" in connection to the delivery of cocaine and cannabis.

In relation to the two phones seized, the officer told the court she believed "one device was used exclusively for criminality".

The court also heard that indecent images of children were found on one of the devices.

The officer told the court there was "additional evidence" on a phone to suggest there had "been contact with a sex worker."

The detective also told the court that on Friday 1 May, a search was "put in place at Mr Hudson's home" and that no drugs were located there, but a follow up search found 11kg (388oz) of suspected cocaine in a storage lock up.

The officer said police objected to bail "primarily because risk of further offending is huge".

The detective told the court "this is his lifestyle" and that Hudson "does not have any other form of work".

The court heard that Hudson had given explanation for some of the offences, but the officer told the court, "in relation to drugs he has given no comment".

The judge told the court that the charges Hudson faces are of the "utmost seriousness".

He told the court he was satisfied Hudson "is at risk of reoffending in this case, and I refuse bail".

Hudson was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Dungannon Magistrates' court on 13 May.