Car collides with two police vehicles as PCTF seize £225,000 drugs haul in major operation

Drugs and cash seized by police in County Antrim

A man in his thirties has been arrested and suspected drugs with an estimated street value of £225,000 seized following a planned police operation which stretched from north Belfast into Newtownabbey and Mallusk.

The arrest followed a proactive operation by detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Paramilitary Crime Task Force targeting the suspected supply of Class A drugs.

Police said officers attempted to stop a vehicle in the Donegall Quay area of Belfast on Wednesday, July 1, as part of ongoing investigations into suspected drug dealing activity.

However, the vehicle allegedly failed to stop and instead attempted to make off from officers, resulting in a collision involving two police vehicles.

Thankfully, no injuries were reported as a result of the incident.

Suspected drugs discovered after vehicle search

Following the collision, officers carried out a search of the vehicle and discovered what police described as a large quantity of suspected Class A controlled drugs.

The suspected drugs were seized and the driver, a man aged in his thirties, was arrested at the scene.

He was arrested on suspicion of:

• Possession of a Class A controlled drug

• Possession of a Class A controlled drug with intent to supply

• Providing money or property for the purposes of terrorism

• Failing to stop for police

• Driving without due care and attention

The man remained in police custody on Thursday while enquiries continue.

Further searches carried out in Newtownabbey and Mallusk

Detectives subsequently carried out follow-up searches in the Newtownabbey and Mallusk areas as part of the investigation.

During those searches, officers seized additional suspected drugs and a number of vehicles.

Police estimate the combined street value of all suspected drugs recovered during the operation to be approximately £225,000.

The seizures represent a significant disruption to suspected drug supply activity affecting communities across the wider Belfast and Greater Belfast area, including parts of Antrim and Newtownabbey.

Police highlight commitment to tackling organised crime

Detective Inspector Maguire said officers had been conducting a proactive policing operation in the Donegall Quay area in relation to the supply of suspected Class A drugs when the vehicle was identified.

He said the subsequent searches and arrest demonstrated the Paramilitary Crime Task Force’s commitment to tackling the harm caused by illegal drug use and supply in communities across Northern Ireland.

Detective Inspector Maguire appealed for anyone with information relating to the supply or use of illegal drugs to come forward.

Anyone with information can contact police by calling 101.

Reports can also be submitted online at www.psni.police.uk/report.

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Police enquiries into the suspected drugs seizure and associated criminal activity remain ongoing.