€5.2m drugs haul seized at port after cross-border Garda-PSNI effort

Man, 53, arrested on suspicion of possession of the drugs

The seized suspected cannabis, worth €5.2m, was concealed within a large number of boxes. Picture: PA/PSNI

A cross-border police effort has seen the seizure of a suspected €5.2m drugs haul.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) worked with An Garda Síochána in the operation, which saw the suspected cannabis discovered on a lorry travelling from Scotland to Larne, Co Antrim, on Monday.

A 53-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possession of the drugs, which are believed to have been destined for the Republic of Ireland.

A PSNI spokesperson said following the stop and search of a lorry travelling from Scotland to Larne Harbour on Monday, detectives located and seized suspected cannabis concealed within a large number of boxes.

They said the 53-year-old was arrested at the scene on suspicion of possession of a class B controlled drug and possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply.

He remained in custody on Monday evening.

“We believe the drugs in this consignment were intended to supply various organised crime groups across the island of Ireland,” the PSNI spokesperson said.

“The joint agency task force was established with the aim of bringing a concerted and enhanced effort to tackle cross-jurisdictional organised crime.

“All partners within the task force are totally committed to working together to reduce the misery caused by drug smuggling and to dismantle the organised groups profiting from this type of criminality.”

They added: “We are delighted these drugs have been removed from our streets and that this income stream has been denied to the criminal network.

“It isn’t difficult to imagine the harm that would have been caused by this volume of drugs being dealt on street corners to vulnerable people, children and those with addiction issues.

“Some people may think that the illegal distribution of cannabis is not a big deal. I’d ask them to just take a moment to think about the violence and exploitation that the organised criminals behind this could have wreaked upon our communities with the millions of pounds of profit they potentially stood to make.

“With the collective efforts of partners, we’ll work tirelessly to tackle such serious and organised criminality and bring those responsible to justice. We rely on the help of our community to do so and would appeal to anyone with information or concerns around illegal drug supply to contact us on 101.”