Heroin dealers targeted in Northern police drive

Drug squad officers today mounted a major operation against heroin dealers in Northern Ireland.

A number of people were arrested when 200 police targeted addresses in south Belfast and Ballymena, Co Antrim.

Police said the operation was the culmination of months of work and probably the most significant ever carried out in the North.

Officers targeted key heroin dealers in a bid to severely disrupt their network.

Operation Galiot swung into force early in the morning and was due to continue throughout the day.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the aim of the operation was to arrest and charge key individuals involved in the heroin trade.

Detective Superintendent Judith Gillespie, head of the Drug Squad, said: ‘‘The operation this morning is the climax of a protracted investigation into heroin dealing and is probably the most significant in Northern Ireland.

‘‘We have been gathering evidence and intelligence on certain people since last October and it is our aim to severely damage the heroin and Class A network in Northern Ireland.’’

Ms Gillespie said later nine people had been arrested in Ballymena and one in Belfast.

She said the search operation was continuing and more arrests were anticipated as private homes continued to be targeted.

Operation Galiot was initially mounted to hit the supply of the drug in Ballymena, but during the investigation it was found it had extended to Belfast, she said.

Long and careful planning was necessary to gather information against those responsible, she said.

‘‘These individuals are very much aware of conventional policing methods and it does take time to get enough evidence to put before the court and we hope this operation has been successful in this regard.’’

She said the operation would not solve the heroin problem in Northern Ireland, ‘‘but I am sure it will make a significant dent in the supply chain, and I hope the results will speak for themselves’’.