A 48-year-old man was arrested in East Belfast last night after a quantity of suspected Benzocaine was seized during a search operation targeting East Belfast UVF’s drug supply network.
He has been charged with being concerned in the supply of a class A controlled drug and encouraging or assisting offences. He is due to appear at Belfast MC on Tuesday 5 May. As is normal procedure all charges are reviewed by the PPS.
A hydraulic press used to compact cocaine into blocks was also seized, along with electronic scales and other drugs paraphernalia.
Head of the Paramilitary Crime Task Force Detective Chief Inspector Cummings said Benzocaine is used by criminals as a ‘cutting agent’ for drugs such as cocaine.
“They use substances such as Benzocaine to increase the volume of drugs for sale, thereby increasing their criminal profits,” he said.
The man arrested has been taken to Musgrave Custody Suite, where he is currently being questioned by detectives.
“The arrest and seizure is a further demonstration that the Paramilitary Crime Task Force continues to investigate all types of organised criminality linked to paramilitaries, in an ongoing effort to rid our communities of the harm these groups cause and of their coercive control,” added Detective Chief Inspector Cummings.
A man was also arrested during the search in Carrickfergus for assaulting a police officer and has been reported to the Public Prosecution Service.
