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Donegal men caught with cocaine and cannabis in Belfast

Two County Donegal men were each jailed for three years when they appeared at Laganside Crown Court yesterday charged in connection with the seizure of half a million pounds worth of cocaine and cannabis. Picture by Pacemaker, Belfast
Two County Donegal men were each jailed for three years when they appeared at Laganside Crown Court yesterday charged in connection with the seizure of half a million pounds worth of cocaine and cannabis. Picture by Pacemaker, Belfast Two County Donegal men were each jailed for three years when they appeared at Laganside Crown Court yesterday charged in connection with the seizure of half a million pounds worth of cocaine and cannabis. Picture by Pacemaker, Belfast

THE PSNI has thanked Gardaí for their help in convicting two Co Donegal men caught with half a million pounds worth of cocaine and cannabis in the north earlier this year.

Dominic Porter (32) from Lifford and Conrad Clarke (29) from St Johnston, appeared at Laganside Crown Court yesterday where they were convicted of possession of cocaine with intent to supply as well as possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

The men, who were part of what police described as a “Derry-based organised crime gang" were each jailed for three years.

Following the hearing, police revealed the men were apprehended in Belfast on February 8 as part of the PSNI investigation into the Derry gang’s involvement in drugs supply and money laundering.

Police found a bin bag containing packages of high purity Class A cocaine and herbal cannabis with an estimated street value of half a million pounds.

Detective Inspector, Tom McClure described the haul as “significant and large" and said the convictions "struck a blow to the activities of an organised gang involved in serious drug criminality.”

He also offered thanks to Gardaí colleagues for their assistance during the course of the investigation.