Paramilitaries and criminals in Northern Ireland have been dealt a major bow following the weekend seizure of ecstasy tablets worth more than £1 million, police claimed today.
Drugs squad officer, detective chief superintendent George McCauley said that 120,000 ecstasy tablets seized in Ballyclare in Country Antrim on Friday were destined for a gang in Mid-Ulster.
PSNI officers stopped a lorry at an industrial estate in Avondale Drive on Friday night and have since charged the driver with importing the drugs which are believed to have originated in the Netherlands.
"We believe that this operation was initiated by a drug dealing network based in Mid-Ulster, ultimately that was where they were going," he said.
"We believe that there were paramilitaries involved, loyalist paramilitaries.
A 40-year-old man will appear at Belfast Magistrates Court in connection withthe seizure.
The PSNI said the 40-year-old had been charged withpossession and possession with intent to supply class A drugs.