A LITHUANIAN man charged over a £12,000 heroin seizure in Belfast swallowed some of the batch before his arrest, a court has been told.
Police claimed Deividas Bruzas is part of an organised crime gang importing and supplying the drugs on the streets of Northern Ireland.
The 38-year-old, of no fixed address, appeared before Belfast Magistrates Court on Monday, charged with possession and conspiracy to supply heroin.
He was arrested during an operation in the east of the city last Wednesday.
Opposing bail, a detective said Bruzas was spotted with another man at bushes in a park in the Knocknagoney area.
As police approached him he put his hand to his mouth and appeared to consume something, the court heard.
He also dropped two plastic bags before he was detained, according to police.
A search of the bushes recovered a glass spice container with 105 wraps of heroin valued at £12,000.
Amid suspicions that more drugs were in his system, Bruzas was taken into custody where he later passed one further wrap.
District Judge Amanda Henderson was told he also underwent hospital x-rays, but no further quantities were detected.
The investigating officer said: "Police believe this man is a member of an organised crime gang in relation to the importation and supply of heroin within Northern Ireland."
He said another suspected member of the group disappeared after securing bail.
A defence lawyer argued that there is no current evidence linking the spice jar to his client.
He also stressed the small amount of heroin said to have passed through Bruzas.
But refusing bail, Judge Henderson cited the risk of re-offending.
Bruzas was remanded in custody to appear again on June 20 by video-link.
