Update – Man in his 30s becomes fourth person charged in relation to Ballybofey cannabis find

Gardai investigating the discovery of a cannabis factory above a Chinese restaurant in Ballybofey have charged a male in his 30s. He will appear before a sitting of Letterkenny District Court tomorrow morning.
Earlier today, a District judge refused bail and remanded three Malaysian women in custody.
Mei Ling Chen (55) and mother and daughter, Sam Pohs Ooi (60) and Li Jiuan Choong (28) were charged with possession of cannabis for the purpose of sale or supply, unflawful possession of cannabis, cultivation of cannabis and an immigration charge of failing to furnish information.
Solicitors Mr Patsy Gallagher, representing Ooi and Chen, and Mr Frank Dorrian, representing Choong, made bail applications for their respective clients saying there was no flight risk as their clients were in this country illegally and therefore did not have papers to travel.
Inspector Goretti Sheridan noted that Ooi and Choong had come into the jurisdiction undetected in recent years, while Chen had spent 20 years in Ireland undetected.
Cannabis plants with an estimated street value of €360,000 were discovered, along with other items made and adapted for the growth and cultivation of cannabis, during a search at a premises on Navenny Street.
The search was conducted by members of the Letterkenny Drugs Unit as part of an ongoing investigation targeting cannabis cultivation in Donegal.
Judge Kelly refused bail for all three women on the grounds of there being a ‘serious flight risk’ and remanded them in custody to appear before Monday’s sitting of Letterkenny District Court by video link from Dochás Women’s Prison in Limerick.
A fouth person, a male aged in his 30s remains in Garda custody and can be detained for up to 7-days.