Eight men appeared in court in Belfast this afternoon charged with belonging to the outlawed loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force.
The men, who also faced charges of possessing firearms and paramilitary uniforms, were all remanded in custody until February 17th.
The charges followed a major police operation in Monkstown, Co Antrim on Saturday when police seized paramilitary equipment from a disused shop.
The operation was mounted the day after the UVF severed its links with the international armed decommissioning body, headed by Canadian Gen John de Chastelain, saying IRA intransigence was putting the loyalist terror group's ceasefire commitment under "adverse strain".
They each face the same two charges. Possession of deactivated firearms, a replica firearm, component parts for a firearm - magazines - and paramilitary uniforms; and a second charge of belonging to a proscribed organisation, namely the UDF.
The accused were: John Rolston (28) unemployed of Alexander Crescent, Armagh; Richard Morrow (24) unemployed of Lynn Road, Larne, Co Antrim; Joseph Crawford (31) unemployed of Fairway, Larne; Philip Clarke (21) unemployed of Cairngorm Drive, Larne; Ian Davidson (24) a sheet metal worker of Waterfall Road, Larne; Dale Magill (21) unemployed of Inverview Drive, Larne and Robert Anderson (22) unemployed of Drumahoe Gardens, Larne and Colin Greer (32) unemployed of Ards Park, Monkstown.
The court heard that when charged last night the men either made no reply or denied the charges.
Under questioning from solicitor Mr Richard Monteith, Det Sgt David Skelly said that police were relying on intelligence, together with evidence recovered at the scene, to substantiate the charge of UVF membership.