Northern Ireland

Suspected drugs found on bus used by school children

Suspected drugs have been found on a Translink bus used by school children
Suspected drugs have been found on a Translink bus used by school children Suspected drugs have been found on a Translink bus used by school children

YOUNG people have been urged to stay on their guard after a bag of suspected drugs was found on a bus involved in school runs.

The white powder contained in a clear plastic bag, known as a 'deal bag', was discovered by a cleaner at a Translink depot in Magherafelt, Co Derry, on Tuesday morning.

It is understood the bus had earlier been used for a school run starting in Randalstown, Co Antrim, before making its way to Maghera in south Derry.

Later that morning it was also used to transport school children from Maghera to nearby Magherafelt.

It is believed children from several schools travelled on the bus.

It is not known if members of the public used the vehicle before the bag was found.

A PSNI spokesman last night said that police attended the depot “after receiving a report that a small bag containing white powder had been found on the floor of the bus”.

“Officers attended and conducted a number of enquiries before taking the bag away for destruction,” he said.

Mid Ulster assembly member Patsy McGlone urged young people to stay on their guard.

“I have highlighted my concerns to Translink and spoken to management about it,” he said.

“I would really call on young people on the buses to be extremely vigilant and report anything they see or find to the bus driver in the first instance, the police and also their teachers within the school.”

A spokeswoman for Translink said:“A substance was discovered on board a bus on Tuesday, September 8.

“We have rigorous cleaning systems in place which ensured this was detected quickly and reported to the PSNI, who removed the substance.

“On-board CCTV has been shared with the PSNI."