Men on trial accused of supplying 75% pure cocaine observed by PSNI during a ‘drugs hand over’

Belfast Crown Court heard that a PSNI detective was working as an “aerial observer on an aerial platform”.

Two men have gone on trial today (Wednesday) accused of supplying a kilo of cocaine with a 75 per cent purity level. Michael Armstrong (65), of Old Holywood Road in Holywood, Co Down, and son-in-law Thomas Martin Cusack (30), of Springfield Heights in Belfast, both deny a charge of unlawfully supplying a Class A controlled drug to another. Armstrong further denies a charge of being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug. Both men were the subject of a PSNI aerial surveillance operation at the time of their detection during a “drugs hand over”. Belfast Crown Court heard that on Thursday, May 26, 2022, a PSNI detective was working as an “aerial observer on an aerial platform”. At around 11.55 am he observed a white Honda vehicle travelling along the Shankill Road in west Belfast to Lanark Way and then heading towards Tennent Street. Prosecution lawyer Charlene Dempsey told the jury of seven women and five men the vehicle came to a stop a few minutes later in Eccles Street “where the driver is seen talking to another male” before driving off. At 12.06 pm the Honda car stops in Ainsworth Avenue where a male is observed leaving a shop and getting into the passenger seat. Said Ms Dempsey: “At 13.55 pm the car travels into a place called Twin Spires, an industrial complex situated off the Falls Road in Belfast. “The white car pulls in front of a taxi bus, a Volkswagen Transporter. A minute later the front seat passenger gets out and goes into a building with an open shutter door. “That front seat passenger, we say, is Thomas Cusack. The white car reverses and the taxi bus pulls up along side it. “Armstrong, who is the driver of the white Honda, gets out and approaches the driver’s door of the taxi bus.” She told the jury that Armstrong is observed by police entering the same premises as Cusack seconds later. Cusack is then seen leaving the premises and walking towards the taxi bus carrying an item in his left hand. Ms Demspey said he was observed by police sliding open the door on the passenger side, leaned into the taxi bus and placed what was in his left hand inside the vehicle. “The taxi bus drives off and remains under the eye of the police camera before it is stopped at 1.48 pm in Northumberland Street,” said the prosecution barrister. “The taxi bus is searched and police locate an orange bag on top of a white bucket behind the driver’s side. “The orange bag was opened and contained a package wrapped in brown parcel tape with the letter ‘C’ written on top in black marker. “Inside the brown package was tightly packed white powder which was tested by a forensic scientist and found to be one kilo of cocaine with a purity level of 75 per cent.” Ms Dempsey told the jury the driver of the Value Cabs taxi bus was William Hugh James Millar, aged 56, who has since pleaded guilty to possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply.

She said that Armstrong and Cusack then got into the Honda vehicle and drove off before being stopped by police at the junction of Cupar Way and Lanark Way. Both were arrested. “A mobile phone was seized from Cusack’s jacket pocket. Two mobile phones were seized from inside the Honda. A mobile phone was also from inside Millar’s taxi bus. “You will hear that Cusack’s phone had been in contact with Millar’s mobile phone the previous day and on the afternoon of the drugs hand over.” She said one of Armstrong’s phones had also been in contact with Millar’s phone on the morning of the drugs handover. All three were taken into police custody for questioning. Cusack told police he had no involvement in the sale of drugs. Armstrong denied any involvement in the supply of drugs, he denied knowledge of the drugs package or the drug exchange and denied knowing the taxi driver. He claimed he went to the store in Twin Spires to buy bathroom materials with Cusack who was his “soon to be son-in-law”. At hearing.

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