Two ‘high end’ cars as well as cash and suspected drugs have been seized in a Paramilitary Crime Task Force operation targeting the South East Antrim UDA, police say.
Equipment believed to be “component parts of a suspected cannabis factory” were also lifted during raids in the Newtownards and Dundonald areas, the PSNI said in a statement issued on Tuesday evening.
They say that Task Force officers “supported by local PSNI Neighbourhood officers and officers from PSNI Tactical Support Group seized cash, two cars, a quantity of suspected Class A and Class B controlled drugs and discovered the component parts of a suspected cannabis factory following a series of coordinated searches in the Newtownards and Dundonald areas today, Tuesday, 26th of May”.
A 26-year-old male, the police statement added, “has also been arrested on suspicion of a number offences including possession of Class A controlled Drugs with intent to supply, and possessing and converting criminal property”.
The man has been taken to Musgrave custody suite, “where he is currently being questioned by detectives”.
Detective Inspector O’Neill said: “Today officers carried out searches in a number of houses in an operation targeting the drugs criminality of South East Antrim UDA. Approximately £8,000 cash was recovered along with two ‘high end’ cars, and a quantity of suspected Class A and Class B controlled drugs.
“Today’s operation is evidence that the PCTF will continue to investigate all aspects of criminality being carried out by anyone purporting to be operating under the convenient flag of a paramilitary organisation. Paramilitaries are not defenders of their communities, instead they are criminals who prey on vulnerable people and exploit any circumstances they can for their own gain.
“Anyone with information about any criminality linked to paramilitaries should contact police on 101 or anonymously through the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111, which gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.”
