A COUPLE have appeared before a Carlisle court accused of conspiring to supply 10kg of cannabis allegedly hidden in a suitcase.

Yudong Ouyang, 30, and his partner Yuxi Zhou, 26, both appeared before the city’s Rickergate court where magistrates said their case should be dealt with at Carlisle Crown Court on January 23.

The  female defendant faces only the conspiracy charge. Ouyang has been charged with nine allegations.

They include being concerned in the production of cannabis and possessing cannabis with intent to supply. Some of the alleged offending related to Manchester and some to Tebay and Penrith Railway Station, the court heard.

Magistrates remanded Ouyang, of Regent Road, Manchester, in custody until he appears before the crown court.

Zhou, a Sheffield University accountancy graduate with a post graduate qualification in human resources, of King’s Head Yard, Salford, Manchester, was granted bail.

This was on condition that she surrenders her passport to Swinton Police station within 48 hours and she must report to her local police station once every week.

The defendants – represented by defence lawyer Andrew Cowan, are likely to be invited to give their pleas when they appear at the crown court. All conspiracy charges have to be dealt with by a crown court.