Police seize £1.3m worth of drugs, arrest 129 and charge 55 as dealers target children

Q Radio News

The PSNI has removed more than a million pounds worth of illegal drugs from the streets of Northern Ireland since last month made more than a hundred arrests and charged more than 50 people.

As part of Operation Dealbreaker detectives worked alongside Border Force colleagues to intercept packages containing suspected drugs that were sent through the post.

Detective Superintendant Zoe McKee spoke to the media on Tuesday afternoon:

🎥 The PSNI says it has removed £1m+ of illegal drugs from the streets of Northern Ireland since last month, made more than 100 arrests and charged more than 50 people. It's part of 'Operation Dealbreaker.'

Detective Superintendent Zoe McKee👇 pic.twitter.com/TronHiZ9aT

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) October 12, 2021

PSNI statement in full:

Update on Operation Dealbreaker

Detective Superintendent Zoe McKee said: “In July of this year the Police Service of Northern Ireland launched Operation DEALBREAKER – a multi-stranded, coordinated, collaborative operational approach to address every aspect of drug misuse across Northern Ireland.

“At the launch, I said that we would continue to do all we could to prevent and detect as much drug related activity as possible, be that importation, supply, possession, or financial gain resulting from drug related criminality, and proactively work to break criminal drug dealing networks to prevent harm to local communities.

“As part of Operation DEALBREAKER we also worked alongside our Border Force colleagues in the interception of packages containing suspected drugs that were sent through the postal system.  

“From 17th September to 4th October this year alone, we have removed £1.34 million worth of suspected drugs from the streets and communities right across Northern Ireland; we have conducted 94 searches; seized 317 drugs exhibits, made 129 arrests and charged 55 people for drug related offences. “

PSNI Organised Crime Task Force Detective Superintendent Zoe McKee shows a sample of recovered drugs at police headquarters where she was giving an update on ‘Operation Dealbreaker’ and the associated drugs seizures and arrests. DS McKee said that children are increasingly being targeted by dealers with the designer packaging of edible cannabis in ‘Gummy Bears’ packets and LSD packages with a Bart Simpson logo. Picture Alan Lewis. 

Detective Superintendent McKee continued: “The devastation experienced as a result of drug misuse is cross cutting and impacts people’s lives at every level in Northern Ireland. The activities of these individuals and crime gangs is a demonstration of harm at its highest. They are only interested in control, money and lifestyle and will often prey on those who most need and deserve our help. 

“As a Police Service, through Operation DEALBREAKER, we will continue to take a co-ordinated, consistent and multiagency approach, supported by partners within the Organised Crime Task Force to break the supply and demand chain. 

Detective Superintendent McKee concluded: “I believe the public hold the ace card. I believe there are people who have information about who the drug-dealing criminals are. I believe local people know the harm they are causing within local communities. I believe everyone can play a critical part in our DEALBREAKER activity. 

“I am making a direct appeal to anyone with information about the illicit supply, possession or misuse of drugs. Please call police in confidence on the non-emergency number 101, or submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/”