A Co Tyrone man was charged with plotting to import £265,000 worth of drugs as part of a Europe-wide probe into shipments from China, the High Court has heard.

Andrew Kirkpatrick allegedly oversaw money transfers of £52,000 in total for consignments of cathinone, a stimulant similar to mephedrone.

The 22-year-old, of Clabby Road, Fivemiletown, faces charges of transferring criminal property and conspiracy to fraudulently import class B drugs .

Kirkpatrick was granted bail for one week while further police checks are carried out.

Opposing bail, a Crown lawyer claimed Kirkpatrick continued to make online drugs-related inquiries after the alleged racket was uncovered last October. Defence counsel Des Fahy disputed the claims, pointing out that his client's computer was seized at the time.

Adjourning the case for a week, Mr Justice McLaughlin ruled that Kirkpatrick could be released until it comes back before him.

The accused was banned from leaving Northern Ireland and accessing the internet.