CANNABIS HAUL WORTH EURO15M

Cannabis with a street value of worth more than UKP10m (Euro14.8m) was
seized from a warehouse in the North today.

Up to four tonnes of the drug, in bars and packed onto pallets, were
discovered when police and HM Revenue and Customs officers raided
industrial premises at Newtownards, Co Down.

It is thought the haul of cannabis, the biggest ever uncovered in the
North, may have been destined for the Republic.

Two men arrested were being questioned tonight by detectives involved
in the operation.

Officers were still trying to work out the final weight of the batch
in a bid to establish its exact value.

Sources predicted it would comfortably surpass UKP10m
(Euro14.8m).

Assistant Chief Constable Peter Sheridan, head of Crime Operations,
praised those involved in striking a major blow against the drugs gangs.

He also stressed the seizure had come a day after police, customs and
assets-stripping agencies met in Co Derry to assess the cross border
crime threat.

Mr Sheridan said: "I would like to congratulate my officers and our
colleagues in HMRC on this success.

"This is proof of our determination to tackle the scourge of illegal
drugs.

"At a strategic level, law enforcement agencies on both sides of the
border have just taken part in a conference on organised crime in
Limavady. At an operational level, agencies have worked together to
protect the public and take drugs out of circulation.

"Such a co-ordinated approach is paying dividends which I am sure is
welcomed by everyone in our community."

Security sources also revealed there was no immediate suggestion of
paramilitary involvement.

The arrests and seizure came as part of the multi-agency Organised
Crime Task Force's developing offensive on illegal drugs in the North.

Local Strangford MP Iris Robinson congratulated those who had
succeeded in keeping the huge haul off the streets.

She said: "Police and customs officers have skilfully and very
professionally managed to prevent this massive consignment from being
distributed across the North.

"It is not yet clear who was responsible for this criminal act or
whether there was paramilitary involvement but I would encourage
anyone with any information at all in relation to these drugs to
immediately contact the Police Service of Northern Ireland."

She added that the covert operation had obviously been ongoing for
some time.

"I hope that it will be followed up by successful criminal charges and
convictions for those responsible for smuggling, hiding and
potentially distributing this material."

The Northern Ireland Security Minister, Paul Goggins, claimed the
seizure proved the authorities' enforcement efforts were paying off.

Mr Goggins, who also chairs the Organised Crime Task Force, said:
"Cannabis is a dangerous drug and has the capacity to cause real harm.
I congratulate both PSNI and HMRC on taking such a large amount off
our streets.

"This clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of our multi-agency
approach.

"Working together these agencies have been able to remove illegal
drugs from our communities and take the profit out of organised
crime."