FOUR men in their twenties and thirties have been arrested under terrorism laws as part of a police crackdown on the UDA in west Belfast.
The men, aged 24, 32, 34 and 36, were arrested in the north of the city on suspicion of being UDA members.
Paramilitary uniforms, drugs, a gun holster and ammunition were seized during a two-day operation which included 13 searches in north Belfast, Holywood, Co Down, and Portadown, Co Armagh.
UDA ties, badges and flags were also seized, along with steroids, cannabis, mobile phones and tablets.
Two of the men, aged 34 and 36, have been released pending a report to prosecutors over UDA membership. The 36-year-old man will also be reported for supplying class C drugs.
The 24-year-old man and the 32-year-old man remained in custody last night.
Detective Inspector Heather Whoriskey appealed to anyone with information about paramilitaries to contact police.
"I understand that people feel afraid to speak out against these paramilitaries, but police need information from local people – as we will act on information we receive," she said. "It may not always be visible and immediate but please be assured that every piece of information is assessed and acted on."
