Cannabis Worth £1m Seized In Belfast Harbour

Cannabis worth an estimated £1 million has been seized during a vehicle stop in the Belfast Harbour area on the morning of Tuesday 20 December.

Detectives from the PSNI's Organised Crime Unit, supported by Border Force and Belfast Harbour Police, stopped and searched a vehicle, uncovering vacuum packed drugs concealed within divan beds inside the vehicle.

A 33-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a class B controlled drug and possession of a class B controlled drug with intent to supply.

He was taken to the Serious Crime Suite at Musgrave Police Station for questioning and remains in custody at this time.

Detective Inspector Shaw said: "This search, seizure and arrest was conducted as part of our ongoing commitment to address the criminality linked to drug importation, supply and use that often results in drug debts, drug addiction and drug related deaths within our communities.

"Through multi-agency efforts we will continue to carry out operations, to break the cycle of those who seek to cause harm through the illegal importation and supply of drugs in Northern Ireland, and to dismantle the organised criminal gangs who profit from this incredibly harmful activity.

"This type of large scale importation is conducted by sophisticated organised crime gangs and these gangs are utterly ruthless in their exploitation of the most vulnerable in our society and they cause this misery for no other reason than personal profit.

"We cannot tackle this scourge without the help of the public. I appeal to anyone with information about illegal drug use or supply, to call police on the non-emergency number 101."

Alternatively, you can submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via

www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.

The independent charity Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org/.

To anyone who thinks they might have a problem with alcohol and/ or drugs and would like to get help please visit www.drugsandalcoholni.info for information on support services near you.