ORGANISED crime detectives seized cannabis with an estimated street value of £1m during an operation in the Belfast Harbour area.
Members of the PSNI’s Organised Crime Unit, supported by Border Force and Belfast Harbour Police, stopped and searched a vehicle early yesterday, discovering the drugs.
The cannabis had been vacuum packed and concealed within divan beds inside the vehicle. A 33-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a class-B controlled drug and possession of a class-B controlled drug with intent to supply.
He was taken to the Serious Crime Suite at Musgrave police station for questioning and remained in custody last night.
“This search, seizure and arrest was conducted as part of our ongoing commitment to address the criminality linked to drug importation, supply and use that often results in drug debts, drug addiction and drug related deaths within our communities,” a Detective Inspector Shaw said.
He described the operation as a multi-agency effort, which will continue to be carried out.
This will, the PSNI said, “break the cycle of those who seek to cause harm through the illegal importation and supply of drugs in Northern Ireland, and to dismantle the organised criminal gangs who profit from this incredibly harmful activity.
“This type of large scale importation is conducted by sophisticated organised crime gangs and these gangs are utterly ruthless in their exploitation of the most vulnerable in our society and they cause this misery for no other reason than personal profit.
“We cannot tackle this scourge without the help of the public. I appeal to anyone with information about illegal drug use or supply to call police.”