NI police swoop nets drugs worth £1.75m

Police have seized £1.75m (€2.55m) worth of drugs in a major operation across Greater Belfast, they revealed today.

A man and two women were arrested as part of the offensive against the well-organised crime gang.

Detectives took batches of cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis resin as well as cash during four searches carried out over the last 36 hours.

Superintendent Hayden Bell, head of the drugs squad in Northern Ireland said the consignments had been smuggled in from Britain.

“These drugs were destined for right across the 'province' (Northern Ireland) into all counties,” he disclosed.

“There’s no evidence at all of paramilitary involvement in this investigation. It’s a criminal drugs gang.”

Homes, storage facilities and open ground were all searched by officers involved in the investigation. Three of the raids were in North Belfast and a fourth took place in the east of the city.

In total, 49kg of amphetamines, 153kg of cannabis and 5kg of high-grade cocaine with the potential to be further cut up, was seized.

Police also went to the courts today in order to restrain the money taken during the operation.

Mr Bell said the drugs supply network his officers had disrupted was based in the Greater Belfast area.

And he pledged: “This is the type of operation we intend to continue mounting across the Province.

At this stage the operation is not completed, we are still continuing our investigation, but this has made a significant dent in this gang’s capabilities.”

He added: “Drugs Squad and Organised Crime branch worked together, and any serious criminals who want to make money we will track down and place them before the courts.”