HEROIN SWOOP SUSPECTS DUE IN COURT

SEVEN people were expected in court today after the RUC's crackdown on heroin.

The suspects, six men and a woman, face a range of drug-related charges,
including possession, possession with intent to supply and conspiracy to
supply at Ballymena Magistrates' Court.

Another person was charged but is not expected to appear in court until later.

The seven were detained during co-ordinated raids on 16 addresses in the
town yesterday.

The operation, codenamed Patsy, involved more than 100 officers and was
thought to be the largest anti-drugs drive launched by the RUC.

Police seized a small quantity of drugs, cash and drugs paraphenalia during
the searches.

It's understood the arrests followed a four-month long investigation, often
involving covert operations.

Drugs Squad officers went undercover to infiltrate Ballymena's drugs network.

The clampdown was welcomed by Security Minister Adam Ingram, who said: "The
Government is determined to make sure that a drugs culture, especially
involving heroin, is not allowed to take a grip in Northern Ireland.

"Society will not tolerate the spread of this evil trade."