01/03/2002

Fourteen in court following drugs crackdown operation

Fourteen people arrested in a major police anti-drugs operation on Thursday have appeared before courts across the province.

The arrests were made following a police crackdown on heroin dealing, codenamed ‘Operation Galiot’, which took place in the early hours of Thursday morning when police searched 24 houses and arrested 18 people.

About 200 officers were involved in the raids, the culmination of months of intelligence gathering which began last October.

Seven people were remanded in custody at Larne Magistrates Court on charges relating to Operation Galiot. Five of the accused were charged with unlawfully supplying class A drugs.

Four people also appeared on Friday at Ballymena’s Court in connection with the drugs charges.

David Mooney, 44, from Richmond Park, Ballymena, Kenneth Wright, 36, from Millfield, Ballymena, Dominic Donegan, 33, from Regent's Park, Ballymena and Leroy Black, 22, Lettercreeve in the town face a variety of drug charges including supplying heroin and cocaine.

Magistrate Robert Alcorn remanded all four in custody until 7 March.

In Belfast Magistrates Court, Kevin Kelly, 32, of no fixed address, faced four charges of supplying heroin. He was remanded in custody.

Meanwhile, two of those charged in relation to Operation Galiot have been ordered to stay away from Belfast city centre's nightlife scene.

Paul Quinn and Kerry Nixon, both 26, of no fixed address, appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court on charges of possessing heroin and intent to supply.They were remanded in custody until 12 April.

Meanwhile the police have said they have arrested a man in Liverpool in connection with ‘Operation Galiot’. He is currently being brought back to Northern Ireland.

(AMcE)

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