Ulster Unionist Justice spokesperson Tom Elliott MLA has welcomed the international policing operation which has resulted in the seizure of £800,000 worth of ‘skunk’ cannabis following searches at ten addresses in Belfast and Counties Antrim and Down, plus the arrest of six people in Northern Ireland and two in northern Italy.
Mr Elliott said:
“This is a huge drugs seizure which has clearly been the result of a major policing operation involving the PSNI, the National Crime Agency and the Italian police.
“This operation completely vindicates the stance taken by the Ulster Unionist Party to maintain pressure on those parties who were reluctant to permit the NCA to operate in Northern Ireland to the same extent as in the rest of the United Kingdom.
“As a result of this co-ordinated effort, £800,000 of illegal drugs will not be able to poison our communities. Crime gangs operate across borders, much of the illegal drugs which circulate in Northern Ireland are sourced abroad and it is clear that an international effort by law enforcement is required to win the war against these groups.
“It is very heartening to see the level of co-operation between the PSNI, the National Crime Agency, other law enforcement agencies in the UK and the Republic of Ireland and Europe yielding such tangible results. I congratulate them all on this operation and wish them every success in their future efforts.”