Three women arrested in Co Antrim after drug parcels intercepted from EU

By Q Radio News

Three women have been arrested in Co Antrim in connection with 11 drug packages sent to Northern Ireland from the EU. 

The National Crime Agency (NCA) and Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) worked to detain the women, aged 26, 47 and 4 in Newtownabbey earlier this morning.

A 29-year-old man was also arrested after a suspected gun was found.

The parcels from the Netherlands and Belgium were intercepeted between October 2020 and April 2021.

The drugs were allegedly being sent to three addresses here when recovered by Border Force officers working in partnership with the NCA and PSNI's paramilitary crime task force.

The female suspects were arrested in the Rathcoole estate and are accused of conspiracy to import controlled drugs and being concerned in the supply of drugs.

Three people have been arrested for allegedly importing drugs into Northern Ireland, and a fourth detained on suspicion of firearms offences as part of a Paramilitary Crime Task Force operation.

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— National Crime Agency (NCA) (@NCA_UK) April 29, 2021

A spokesperson for the NCA said the drugs included amphetamine, MDMA (ecstasy), cannabis, ketamine and cocaine.]

The combined weight was was over 19kg with an estimated value of £470,000.

Some of the drugs were found inside a jigsaw puzzle. 

NCA Belfast branch Commander David Cunningham said the large quantity of drugs were destined for the streets of Northern Ireland. 

Meanwhile PSNI Det Supt Zoe McKee said the "range and volume" of the drugs ''indicate a significant demand within communities".