A MAJOR crackdown by the PSNI has led to the seizure of almost £1.5m in drugs and more than 350 arrests in three months.
From February to April this year police also seized £44,000 in cash - believed to be linked to the drugs trade.
Police said that there were 357 arrests resulting in 78 people being charged with a further 163 people being reported with view to prosecution.
Details of the operation came as three men appeared before Belfast Magistrates Court yesterday after heroin was seized in a flat in north Belfast.
The operation named Torus is an initiative run by the PSNI twice a year.
Overall figures for the campaign show that in the past year there were more than 5,000 drug seizures across Northern Ireland.
In total, there were 2,944 drugs-related arrests.
The figures are up on the previous year by around five per cent.
The new phase of Operation Torus will run until October 31.
Detective Superintendent Andrea McMullan, from Reactive and Organised Crime Branch, said the operation had had "considerable success" in recent years.
"This latest phase is further proof that drugs remain a policing priority because of the devastating impact they have on individuals and communities," she said.
"For us to be as successful as possible, we need the help and support of local communities to remove this illegal activity from our streets.
“That is why we run Operation Torus, because it empowers local people to come forward with information about drugs in their area."
DS McMullan said the PSNI would continue to "disrupt and arrest those involved in the sale and supply of drugs, bring those individuals before the courts and work with communities and partner agencies to reduce the threat of harmful and illegal activity.
“I would continue to ask communities to provide us with information about illegal drugs.
"Our message is clear and simple: if you see or know of anyone who is dealing drugs in your local area, then contact your local police on the non-emergency number 101 or alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 and pass on any details that you may have."
