Northern Ireland

Marijuana street valued at around £2m by the PSNI seized near Belfast Harbour

Marijuana with a street value of approximately £2m discovered following the search of a vehicle near Belfast Harbour
Marijuana with a street value of approximately £2m discovered following the search of a vehicle near Belfast Harbour Marijuana with a street value of approximately £2m discovered following the search of a vehicle near Belfast Harbour

Marijuana was seized following a search of a lorry close to Belfast Harbour, with an estimated street value of £2m, according to police.

Police believe the herbal cannabis was destined for Lurgan, Portadown and Armagh. A 25-year-old man was arrested and was being questioned by police on Friday.

Members of the PSNI’s auto crime team discovered the cannabis after stopping the heavy goods vehicle on the Dargan Road around 10.30pm on Thursday. The UK Border Force was involved in the stop and search.

Drugs were seized close to Belfast Harbour port
Drugs were seized close to Belfast Harbour port Drugs were seized close to Belfast Harbour port

In a statement, the PSNI said: “Alongside colleagues from the UK Border Force, officers stopped and search a heavy goods vehicle in the Belfast Harbour area shortly after 10:30pm.

“During the proactive policing operation, suspected herbal cannabis with an estimated street value of around £2million located concealed in a trailer. A 25-year-old man was arrested and remains in police custody at this time.”

Police described the seizure of the marijuana as “significant”, adding it was “destined to destroy lives and communities across Northern Ireland”.

“This represents £2million that will not be going into the pockets of an organised crime group,” the PSNI said.

“To have taken this quantity of suspected herbal cannabis from the streets, will have a severe impact on the criminals linked to this operation.

“Our detectives are following up on a line of enquiry that these drugs may have been destined for the Lurgan, Portadown and Armagh area. Local Neighbourhood Policing Teams have assisted with follow up searches in this area.

“This seizure and arrest highlights the ability of strong partnership working with key stakeholders to tackle this type of organised criminality.”