A Belfast man accused of being involved in supplying £250,000 worth of cannabis was stopped as he was about to board a one-way flight to Amsterdam, the High Court heard.
Michael Grimley, 25, told police he was going to the Dutch city to "party until his money ran out", prosecutors said.
Grimley, of Glenkeen, Dunmurry, was detained at Belfast International Airport last week following a police surveillance operation linked to an alleged drugs handover at the Sprucefield car park.
A Crown barrister said 50 kilos of suspected cannabis resin was packed into a box and bag transported from an Audi car to a Toyota vehicle in September.
Police monitoring the scene were said to have taken a series of photographs of the alleged exchange of drugs with an estimated street value of 250,000.
It was claimed that Grimley was linked to the operation by a finger print found on the box.
He faces one charge of being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs.
Nicola Auret, prosecuting, told a bail application:
"When he was arrested travelling to Amsterdam it was on a one-way ticket with the amount of 2,175 on him.
"He said he was going to Amsterdam to party until his money ran out, but leave enough for a flight back home."
Grimley, who is unemployed, claimed his brother gave him some of the money and he saved the rest.
Conor Maguire, defending, argued that the accused was only tenuously linked to the charge against him.
The barrister said Grimley denies being at the scene of the alleged handover, and pointed out how his fingerprints were not found on the bag.
Mr Maguire also described suspicions about the one-way ticket as a "red herring".
The court also heard suggestions that Grimley's gambling successes may have contributed to the cash he managed to save.
Refusing bail, Mr Justice Deeny ruled there was a risk of flight due to the strong case against the accused.
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