Arrests have been made and drugs and cash seized after a number of searches were carried out in the Ballyclare area today (Tuesday) in an operation targeting suspected criminality linked to the South East Antrim UDA.
The Paramilitary Crime Task Force (PCTF) carried out four searches at residential addresses, alongside officers from the local Neighbourhood Policing Team and Tactical Support Unit.
They were carried out as part of ongoing investigations into suspected drugs crimes and illegal money lending linked to South East Antrim UDA.
As a result of one of the searches, a 29-year-old was arrested under the Terrorism Act.
At another address, a quantity of suspected class B controlled drugs was located along with a substantial sum of cash which was seized.
A man, aged 48, was arrested on suspicion of possession of Class B controlled drugs with intent to supply. He has been subsequently released on police bail pending further enquiries.
Various other items have been seized.
Detective Inspector O’Neill said the searches are aimed at tackling the criminality linked to paramilitaries.
“The possession and distribution of drugs within communities will not and should not be tolerated and we will continue our campaign against those who are intent on profiting from the significant harm caused by paramilitary criminality and activity,” he said.
“I would appeal to anyone with information about illegal money lending or drug use or drug dealing to call police on the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively, you can submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/. The independent charity Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.”