Six people jailed following Northern Ireland wide anti-drugs operation
07 Dec 2009
On December 4 2009, six people received jail sentences totaling eighteen years following a PSNI Northern Ireland-wide operation against cannabis factories. They were the latest in a series of convictions secured by the police as a result of the operation last year.
This intelligence led operation took months of painstaking planning, and was one of Northern Ireland’s largest and most successful anti-drugs operations to date.
Since early 2008, officers from the PSNI’s Organised Crime Branch, working with uniformed officers all over Northern Ireland, arrested 104 suspects, and charged 84 people with drugs offences. Cannabis valued at over £17m was seized.
Detective Inspector Peter Moore said the operation was highly significant:
“The impact this has had on organised crime gangs, originating from South East Asia, cannot be underestimated. Six more people have been punished by the courts for their involvement in these crimes and this sends out an important message. Cultivating cannabis, dealing in illegal and harmful drugs of any kind, will not be tolerated.
“Despite these successes police have uncovered a number of other cannabis factories in various parts of Northern Ireland in recent months which shows that the threat still remains. Criminal gangs continue to rent property from the private sector to use as bases for these factories and we would ask landlords to check the details of prospective tenants. If they are in any doubt they should contact their local police.”
“I would like to thank members of the public who supplied information that helped us with this investigation.” Detective Inspector Moore continued.
“I would also like to congratulate my uniformed colleagues throughout Northern Ireland whose dedication and professionalism helped ensure that these factories were detected and closed down,” he said.
