Crackdown on loyalist racketeering in North

A COLLECTION of art and a €180,000 luxury yacht have been examined as part of a new crackdown on multi-million euro racketeering in the North.

The paintings and boat are believed to have been owned by loyalist terrorists and criminals suspected of involvement in drug-dealing and money laundering.

It is believed the yacht, worth more than €180,000, was once moored in Co Antrim but has since been sold on. Investigators from the Assets Recovery Agency were alerted to the 20ft cruiser during an ongoing probe into 19 cases worth a total of €12 million.