TWO men have been arrested as part of a PSNI operation linked to the INLA.
A 57-year-old man was detained in the Galliagh area of Derry yesterday under the Terrorism Act while a 19-year-old was arrested in the Strabane area under the Terrorism Act and the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Three searches were also carried out and a number of items were seized for further examination.
Police say these include a large quantity of documentation, mobile phones and electronic devices.
Detective Inspector Tom McClure said the “search and arrest operation is part of an ongoing investigation into the criminality of INLA in the north west”.
“This group are a service priority for the Paramilitary Crime Task Force due to the level of threat, risk and harm they pose to our communities, and the breadth and depth of their criminality,” he said.
The PSNI man accused the paramilitary group of being involved in activities including “violence, extortion and the supply of controlled drugs, illicit cigarettes and counterfeit goods and this strand of the investigation looks to take action against those directing this criminality and money laundering”.
Police said that part of yesterday’s operation relates to an investigation into shots being fired in the Divis area of west Belfast on May 20.
Mr McClure also said there has been an increase “in the number of paramilitary style attacks over the past few weeks” which police believe "have been carried out by the INLA".
