£1.6 million worth of cocaine recovered from van at Belfast port

by Q Radio News

Cocaine with an estimated street value of £1.6 million has been seized at Belfast port. 

The 20-kilo haul was discovered hidden inside an empty fuel tank being transported in a van which had just arrived into the port, during a National Crime Agency investigation. 

The van had just arrived into Belfast port on a ferry from Birkenhead on Monday 22nd February. 

NCA officers using special equipment had to be brought in to recover the drugs, in an operation which took several hours. 

Belfast Harbour police, PSNI and border force were also involved. 

National Crime Agency photo

The vehicle's driver, a 39 year old man from Wolverhampton, has been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to supply controlled drugs and is now being questioned by NCA investigators. 

Following the seizure, a second man aged 46 was arrested on suspicion of the same offences in Wolverhampton as part of the same investigation.

NCA branch commander Adam Warnock said: “This was a significant seizure of cocaine, one of the biggest to be made by law enforcement in Northern Ireland in recent years.

“The loss of the profit that would have been made from it will be felt by the criminal groups involved in drug supply in the province.

“Those groups are also involved in exploitation and violence in our communities, so taking away these drugs will prevent them from reinvesting in further criminal activity.

“Working with our partners across law enforcement we are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle organised crime networks and protect the public.”

National Crime Agency photo

Detective Chief Superintendent John McVea, from the PSNI, said: “We are delighted with the success of our Law Enforcement colleagues.

"More importantly we are pleased with the positive impact this will have for individuals and communities within Northern Ireland in terms of disrupting the distribution and supply of Class A drugs and bringing those harmful offenders to justice.

“Anything we can do to support a collective effort across a range of partners, as was seen in yesterday’s operation, is always welcomed, as well as the fact that cocaine with an estimated street value of over £1.6 million has been taken out of the control of criminals.”

PSNI welcome the seizure of cocaine with an estimated street value of £1.2m by the National Crime Agency on February 22nd.https://t.co/2C4sWLFdtl pic.twitter.com/exL7ArrToA

— Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) February 24, 2021