Police seize over 3.6kg of Cannabis and Cocaine in raids across Coleraine, Bushmills, and Ballymoney

In a significant operation targeting drug-related crime, police in the Causeway Coast and Glens area have seized over 3.6 kilograms of cannabis, cannabis resin, and a quantity of class A and class C controlled drugs, including cocaine, following searches across Coleraine, Bushmills, and Ballymoney.

Today’s operation, Tuesday 3 June, was part of the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI) ongoing #OpDealbreaker initiative to disrupt the supply and distribution of illegal drugs.

Officers from the Rural Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), supported by the District Support Team (DST) and the Tactical Support Group (TSG), carried out searches at three properties in the region.

The coordinated effort resulted in the seizure of substantial quantities of illicit substances, including cannabis, cannabis resin, cocaine, and class C drugs.

Additionally, police confiscated several cannabis resin vapes, each containing 1 gram of cannabis resin, alongside other drug-related paraphernalia.

A PSNI spokesperson stated:

“Today Officers from Rural NPT conducted searches of three properties within the Coleraine, Bushmills and Ballymoney areas.

“Due to the multiple properties we were assisted by the District Support Team (DST) and the Tactical Support Group (TSG).

“These searches resulted in Police locating and seizing just over 3.6 Kilograms of Cannabis and Cannabis Resin, a quantity of Class A controlled drugs, namely Cocaine and a quantity of Class C controlled drugs. A number of Cannabis Resin vapes were also seized which each contained 1 gram of Cannabis Resin.”

The operation led to the arrest of one man, who was cautioned and detained on suspicion of multiple drug offences, including possession of criminal property.

The suspect remains in custody, assisting police with their ongoing enquiries.

“As a result one male was cautioned and arrested for numerous drug offences including Possession of Criminal Property. He continues to assist Police with their enquiries,” the PSNI added.

Images released by the PSNI show the seized substances, including weighed cannabis, cannabis resin, and what the police described as “very appealing deal bags” used to package the drugs.

The haul underscores the scale of the operation and the PSNI’s commitment to tackling drug-related crime in Northern Ireland.

The raids are part of #OpDealbreaker, a long-running PSNI operation aimed at disrupting organised crime groups involved in the supply and distribution of controlled drugs. Previous operations under this initiative have led to significant seizures, with the PSNI reporting a 40% increase in drug seizures in 2023 compared to the previous year, alongside a 10.5% rise in drug-related arrests between July 2022 and June 2023.

The operation in Causeway Coast and Glens highlights the ongoing efforts to target both local and international drug networks, with the PSNI working closely with partners such as the National Crime Agency and Border Force to curb the flow of illegal substances into Northern Ireland.

The seizure of cannabis resin vapes is particularly notable, as these products have become increasingly popular in illegal drug markets. The PSNI’s discovery of these items reflects a growing trend in the distribution of cannabis-based products, which are often marketed in ways that appeal to younger users.

For anyone with information about drug-related activity in their area, the PSNI urges contacting them on 101 or reporting anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.