A Belfast man was forensically linked to cannabis and amphetamine found in a blue recycling bin outside a property in the north of the city, a court heard today.
As a prosecuting barrister opened the Crown case against Ryan Mackle to a jury at Belfast Crown Court, the hearing was told the drugs were located in various containers found inside the wheelie bin.
Mackle (35), from Donegall Park Avenue, has been denies four charges arising from the discovery during a police search of a house in the Downshire Gardens area on April 1 2015.
Prosecutor Philip Henry told the jury that at the time of the search, the address was occupied by Mackle's father's partner.
Mr Henry said a recycling bin outside the property was searched and a number of containers containing drugs were found inside.
Both cannabis resin and herbal cannabis were located, alongside a quantity of amphetamine.
Mr Henry said when these containers were forensically tested, both Mackle's fingerprints and DNA were present on some of them.
A total of 260 grams of amphetamine was found in one lunch box, with 63 grams of herbal cannabis in a second.
Also seized were six solid blocks of cannabis resin weighing 444 grams, along with 15 zip-lock bags filled with more herbal cannabis which amounted to just under half a kilo of the Class B drug.
The trial continues.
