THE PSNI has seized more than £309,000 worth of drugs in the first two weeks of the latest phase of its operation against street dealers.
Police conducted 244 searches across the north, resulting in 59 arrests and 43 people being charged or reported to prosecutors.
The searches were carried out between February 27 and March 13 as part of the PSNI's initiative Operation Torus.
Police said deaths in Northern Ireland from the misuse of opioid drugs now outnumber road fatalities.
Opioid drugs include heroin, morphine and methadone. Although most are prescription drugs, all are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
In the past year 5,182 drugs seizures have been carried out across the north and 2,696 drug-related arrests.
Detective chief superintendent Tim Mairs, head of the PSNI's reactive and organised crime branch, said: "Drugs remain a policing priority due to the devastating effects they can cause to individuals, their families and communities.
"The number of deaths in Northern Ireland connected to drug use is on the increase and this is a concern. Sadly, these are all preventable."
He said opioid deaths have increased across Britain and Northern Ireland between 2012 and 2015 with Northern Ireland having a 47 per cent surge, second only to England at 58 per cent.
"This indicates that, despite the much smaller numbers we are dealing with in Northern Ireland, the rate of increase is worrying," he said.
Mr Mairs urged anyone with information on street dealing to phone officers on the non-emergency number 101 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
