Police seized £100,000 of suspected criminal cash from kitchen appliances at a house in east Belfast as part of an investigation into cannabis importation and illegal money lending.

Officers stopped Wen Quin Lin, 51, a Chinese national from Glandore Avenue in Belfast, on Tuesday and found keys to a property on Dromore Street.

A search of the Dromore Street house uncovered the cash inside a rice cooker, electric grill and extractor fan.

The investigation began in May 2024 after UK Border Force intercepted a parcel containing 2.2 kilograms of herbal cannabis from Thailand addressed to the Dromore Street address.

Five days later, police searched the property and found Lin in a bedroom along with several mobile phones.

Examination of the phones showed Lin arranged illegal loans to members of the Chinese community in Northern Ireland, ranging from thousands to £20,000 pounds.

The devices also contained evidence of Lin organising purchases of multi-kilogram cannabis consignments from Thailand and the United States for courier delivery.

Lin faces charges of possessing criminal property, conspiracy to import Class B drugs and unauthorised financial services activity.

At Belfast Magistrates Court, District Judge Steven Keown refused bail and remanded Lin in custody until May 20, citing risks from persistent serious criminal activity in 2023 and 2024.

Lin claimed he lived in London, but held keys to the Dromore Street property. Defence solicitor Ciaran Steele noted the house has multiple occupants and belongs to a landlord.