Ballymena District Support Team seize £250,000 in drugs, cash and weapons in major October operations

PSNI Ballymena Neighbourhood Inspector McToal

Ballymena’s District Support Team (DST) has seized around £250,000 worth of drugs, cash, and weapons in a series of proactive operations carried out across the Mid and East Antrim area throughout October.

The specialist team, made up of six officers, works under the direction of the District Commander and the Policing and Community Safety Partnership, tackling crime priorities that most affect local communities.

Inspector McToal said:

“The team are trained in a variety of specialities ranging from pursuit driving and method of entry (forcing entry to premises), to field testing drugs and administering evidential breath tests.

“Throughout the summer the team were deployed in public order situations, also assisting with various parades and events throughout the district.”

He added that the DST’s focus on proactive policing has paid off in recent weeks.

“I want to highlight that in October, the team seized an estimated £250,000 worth of controlled drugs, cash, criminal assets and twenty-three weapons including seven suspected firearms, through a number of proactive operations.”

Among the major incidents highlighted, a Whitehead search on Friday 17th October resulted in the recovery of drugs and cash valued at over £100,000.

“A 31-year-old man was arrested in connection with this and is due to appear before Belfast Magistrate’s Court in November,” Inspector McToal confirmed.

The inspector also noted that this figure does not include additional work undertaken by Local Police and Neighbourhood Policing Teams, as well as other departments within the PSNI.

“None of this would have been achievable without the help and support of our local community, that is invaluable and that remains the case,” he said.

Inspector McToal encouraged anyone with information on criminal activity to continue working with police.

“I am encouraging you, if you wish to report a crime, you can speak to an officer out and about, contact 101 or speak with Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

The PSNI continues to urge the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious behaviour to help keep communities across Mid and East Antrim safe.