Four held in police crackdown on west Belfast UDA

FOUR men have been arrested in an anti-terror crackdown on the UDA in west Belfast.

The two-day search and arrest operation also saw detectives from the PSNI’s Paramilitary Crime Taskforce raid 13 properties in the north of the city, Holywood and Portadown and seize a mountain of evidence.

Detective Inspector Heather Whoriskey said: “We have seized numerous paramilitary uniforms and associated paraphernalia including badges, flags and UDA ties. We have also found drugs — steroids and cannabis — as well as mobile phones, tablets, and a gun holster and ammunition.

“Four men — aged 24, 32, 34 and 36 — were arrested under terrorism legislation in north Belfast on suspicion of being members of a proscribed organisation, namely the UDA. They were taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite for questioning.”

Two of the men, aged 34 and 36, have been released pending a report to the PPS for the offence of membership of a proscribed organisation.

The 36-year-old man will also be reported to the PPS for the offence of being concerned in the supply of class C controlled drugs. The men aged 24 and 32 were still in police custody yesterday.

“While these searches and arrests focused specifically on the west Belfast UDA, we will continue to target all paramilitary groups and disrupt their illegal activities which only serve to blight the communities they operate in.

“These people prey on the most vulnerable members of their communities and try to control them by using fear and violence.”

Last month the PSNI launched a major blitz on UVF criminality in Belfast which produced three arrests.

Fourteen searches of homes and businesses found large amounts of cash, contraband cigarettes, an imitation firearm and money lending ledgers.