News (Media Awareness Project) - Ireland: RUC Raids Net Pounds 1.1M Drugs |
| Title: | Ireland: RUC Raids Net Pounds 1.1M Drugs |
| Published On: | 1999-10-07 |
| Source: | Belfast Telegraph (UK) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-05 18:28:47 |
RUC RAIDS NET POUNDS 1.1M DRUGS
THREE people were today being questioned by the RUC after the seizure of
drugs with an estimated street value of over pounds 1m.
The drugs were recovered during searches in Belfast, Newtownards and
Dungiven yesterday.
In the first incident, police stopped a car at Dee Street in east Belfast at
3.30pm and discovered a quantity of stolen goods.
A further search of the car then uncovered a quantity of Ecstasy, cannabis
and amphetamines.
A follow-up search of a lock-up at Abbey Road, in Newtownards, uncovered
what police described as "a large quantity" of cocaine as well as further
quantities of cannabis and Ecstasy.
Police say the drugs recovered in that operation have an estimated street
value of pounds 900,000.
Then at 11.20pm yesterday police stopped two vehicles on the Gortnacross
Road in Dungiven.
A search of the vehicles uncovered cannabis with an estimated street value
of pounds 200,000.
Two men have been arrested.
Jim Rodgers, Ulster Unionist councillor for east Belfast welcomed the
success as a "lifesaver.""I have no doubt that the discovery of these drugs
has saved the lives of some of our young people.
"The scourge of drugs is a problem all of society must fight and I have
nothing but praise for the RUC for the vigilance and excellent detective
work exhibited here."The significant haul comes just two weeks after the
Police Authority's annual report highlighted the RUC's ongoing effort
against the menace of drugs.
"Drugs misuse remains a major source of anxiety and despite a considerable
number of major seizures during the year there is a strong public perception
that the drugs problem is worsening," it said.
"Evidence of a growing 'needle culture' and seizures of crack cocaine are
particularly worrying.
"This of course is not a problem for the police alone but is one for society
as a whole to tackle.
"Multi-agency initiatives, targeting known dealers and drugs awareness
education are all important elements in the anti-drug campaign.
"But much still remains to be done to counter what has increasingly become
an international problem".
THREE people were today being questioned by the RUC after the seizure of
drugs with an estimated street value of over pounds 1m.
The drugs were recovered during searches in Belfast, Newtownards and
Dungiven yesterday.
In the first incident, police stopped a car at Dee Street in east Belfast at
3.30pm and discovered a quantity of stolen goods.
A further search of the car then uncovered a quantity of Ecstasy, cannabis
and amphetamines.
A follow-up search of a lock-up at Abbey Road, in Newtownards, uncovered
what police described as "a large quantity" of cocaine as well as further
quantities of cannabis and Ecstasy.
Police say the drugs recovered in that operation have an estimated street
value of pounds 900,000.
Then at 11.20pm yesterday police stopped two vehicles on the Gortnacross
Road in Dungiven.
A search of the vehicles uncovered cannabis with an estimated street value
of pounds 200,000.
Two men have been arrested.
Jim Rodgers, Ulster Unionist councillor for east Belfast welcomed the
success as a "lifesaver.""I have no doubt that the discovery of these drugs
has saved the lives of some of our young people.
"The scourge of drugs is a problem all of society must fight and I have
nothing but praise for the RUC for the vigilance and excellent detective
work exhibited here."The significant haul comes just two weeks after the
Police Authority's annual report highlighted the RUC's ongoing effort
against the menace of drugs.
"Drugs misuse remains a major source of anxiety and despite a considerable
number of major seizures during the year there is a strong public perception
that the drugs problem is worsening," it said.
"Evidence of a growing 'needle culture' and seizures of crack cocaine are
particularly worrying.
"This of course is not a problem for the police alone but is one for society
as a whole to tackle.
"Multi-agency initiatives, targeting known dealers and drugs awareness
education are all important elements in the anti-drug campaign.
"But much still remains to be done to counter what has increasingly become
an international problem".
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