Five arrested as cannabis worth more than €579,000 seized in NI

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Five men have been arrested and cannabis worth approximately €579,790 (£500,000) seized during a series of police searches.

Detectives from the PSNI’s Organised Crime Branch made the arrests as they carried out searches of five addresses on Wednesday.

The searches were carried out with the PSNI’s Tactical Support Group officers.

Five men aged 33, 34, 38, 41 and 43 were arrested for a variety of offences, including cultivation of cannabis.

The Organised Crime Branch said it had co-ordinated a “day of action” as a result of a probe into the activities of criminal gangs.

It said it had located and dismantled four cannabis cultivations within properties in Templepatrick, Coleraine, Tandragee and Lurgan.

Each location was described as “expertly set up”, containing rooms full of plants at various stages of growth.

Detective Inspector Kelly, from the Organised Crime Branch, said: “Clearly there was a conveyor belt supply of drugs being produced, with regular harvests across the properties, which would likely be sold on to other criminal gangs.

“The drugs recovered have a potential street value of approximately £500,000.

“A fifth property in Newry was searched and the occupant located and arrested by Roads Policing officers in Portadown this morning. Four vehicles have also been seized by detectives.”

Det Insp Kelly added: “Organised crime gangs fund their criminality and lifestyle at the expense of others. Damage is caused to properties.

“Vulnerable people caught up in drug misuse suffer, and it creates a pressure on families and the health service.

“I’m grateful to local people and communities for their continued support, and I’m keen to reiterate and appeal for anyone with information on this incident or drug supply in general to contact us on 101.”