Three arrested after drugs worth £12 million seized by PSNI and NCA

by Q Radio News

£12 million worth of drugs have been recovered in what has been described as the "biggest drug seizure" ever made in Northern Ireladn by the National Crime Agency. 

It follows a joint operation by the NCA and PSNI into the region's drug supply. 

The recovery was made after a lorry was stopped in the Templepatrick area in the early hours of Wednesday 3rd June. 

Officers found around 600 kilos of herbal cannabis among a cover load of vegetables. 

The drugs had an estimated street value in Northern Ireland of between £10-12 million.

Three men have been arrested in connection with the incident, including the lorry driver, on suspicion of conspiring to import controlled drugs. 

The suspects are aged 32, 37 and 62 and from County Tyrone, County Armagh and County Derry/Londonderry. 

All three remain in custody. 

Meanwhile, two premises were also searched, one in County Londonderry and one in County Tyrone.

The PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne announced the major find while addressing the Policing Board. 

He says work is also ongoing to tackle drugs and organised crime in the border areas of Northern Ireland.

(PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne addressed NI Policing Board) 

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Foster, from Police Service NI’s Organised Crime Unit, said, “This ongoing NCA-led investigation resulted in a joint operation between police and NCA over the last few days which has uncovered between £10-12 million of herbal cannabis.

"Police Service NI officers discovered this significant find of drugs after stopping and searching the lorry when it entered Northern Ireland.

“This seizure of drugs is significant both in terms of the quantity and also the disruption this will have caused to the organised crime group who would have brought these drugs into our communities to make money for their own selfish gain.  

“This successful operation demonstrates the significant benefits of joint working with law enforcement partners and we will continue to work closely with NCA to disrupt the nefarious activities of organised crime groups operating in Northern Ireland.”

National Crime Agency Belfast Branch Commander David Cunningham said: “This is an incredibly significant seizure of controlled drugs, the biggest the NCA has ever made here in Northern Ireland.

“A seizure of this size will have a huge impact on the organised crime groups involved in its importation, depriving them of commodity and, most importantly, profit.

“We are determined to do all we can with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle drug supply routes, not only here in Northern Ireland but across the UK.

“The crime groups involved bring violence and exploitation to our streets and into our communities.

“Our investigation into this seizure continues, and I’d like to thank our colleagues at PSNI for their support.”