Eleven arrests in East Belfast UVF drugs probe
Paramilitary Crime Task Force carry out "significant" operation
Last updated 22nd Mar 2019
Eleven men were arrested today (Friday) and a quantity of suspected Class A drugs seized after a major security operation in Counties Antrim and Down.
Police say the arrests are the result of the Paramilitary Crime Task Force’s “significant search and arrest” operation against the “criminal activities of the East Belfast UVF.”
And in a damning condemnation they branded the group “parasites” and “nothing more than a drugs gang” operating “under a flag of convenience in an attempt to legitimise their existence.”
Detective Superintendent Bobby Singleton said: “Together with our colleagues in Belfast City Policing District and Operational Support Department, we carried out 14 searches in the Greater Belfast, Ards and Comber areas and arrested 11 men aged between 22 and 48. They are currently in police custody being questioned by detectives.
“To date this has resulted in the seizure of £15,000 of suspected Class A drugs, a number of high value vehicles, high end jewellery, clothing and accessories and a significant quantity of cash.
“The investigation continues.”
DS Singleton said the paramilitaries exploited local people rather than protecting them.
“East Belfast UVF have been a priority for the PCTF since its inception owing to the breadth and scale of criminality and the violence against and coercion of the community that goes hand in hand with it,” he said.
“Paramilitaries claim to protect local people but in reality they exploit them by supplying illegal drugs and using violence to try and control their markets. “
He said that the investigation had been ongoing for some time and today’s action “will likely lead to further action by the Paramilitary Crime Task Force.”
He added: “today’s operation demonstrates what we can do when we have information about the activities of these groups. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank those that are standing up to paramilitaries across Northern Ireland, your courage is an inspiration to us all, thank you. Anyone with any information no matter how trivial they may think it is, should bring that to police or to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”