£12m haul: Newry cannabis seizure sets record
THE PSNI seized a £12m haul of drugs in an operation linked to an international crime gang based in Northern Ireland.
The biggest cache of suspected herbal cannabis ever seized here was found in a haulage yard in Newry on Tuesday.
One man, aged 34, was arrested.
The Organised Crime Taskforce, working with the National Crime Agency, Revenue and Customs and Belgian police, was involved in Tuesday’s operation following a significant seizure of cocaine in Belgium last Friday.
Police believe the seizure is linked to a locally based organised crime group.
On Friday Belgian authorities conducted a search of a vehicle and seized the significant haul of cocaine.
The following morning two men were arrested and quizzed by police in Belfast in connection with the cocaine.
They were released on police bail pending further investigation.
Head of Criminal Investigation Branch Detective Chief Superintendent
John Mcvea said: “The cannabis seizure in Newry is the largest seizure to date in Northern Ireland.
“There is no doubt that by taking these drugs off the streets of Northern Ireland we have significantly impacted the funding stream of this organised crime gang.”
He added: “We will continue to work in partnership with our colleagues in the Organised Crime Taskforce to identify, disrupt, dismantle and frustrate organised crime gangs, not only in Northern Ireland, but across Europe.”