Tobacco and cash seized inraidson loyalist gangs

THREE people have been arrested in south Belfast and Newtownabbey following a tobacco seizure.

A total of 107,000 cigarettes and 21 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco were seized during the search of three houses, five vehicles and one shop on Tuesday.

The products are said to have been worth £46,500 in lost duty and taxes.

A sum of around £2,000 in cash was also seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act by the Paramilitary Crime Task Force.

Two men in their 60s and a 53-year-old woman have been arrested and interviewed in relation to the evasion of excise duty.

Steve Tracey of the Fraud Investigation Service said: “Working together in partnership with other enforcement colleagues we can target the criminal gangs who are stealing from the taxpayer, robbing public services and undermining legitimate, honest traders.”

PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Martin Cummings said: “This seizure is a further sign of our continuing commitment to ending the funding streams that allow paramilitaries to perpetuate their organised criminality.

“There is no such thing as a victimless crime and the trade of illicit tobacco generates significant funds for paramilitary groups, in this case loyalist paramilitaries.

“Those who purchase these products should be under no illusion — they are indirectly funding the purchase of other commodities by paramilitaries.”

“Communities end up paying the price whilst paramilitaries profit,” he added.