A man has been sentenced as a result of an investigation by the Paramilitary Crime Task Force into suspected criminality linked to the East Belfast UVF.

43 year old Thomas Rodgers was sentenced to 30 months for various drugs related offences including possession of a class A controlled drug, possession of a Class A controlled drug with intent to supply, possession of criminal property and concerned in the supply of a Class A controlled drug. He will spend half of the sentence in custody and half on licence.

Detective Sergeant Price said: “This was a proactive investigation into the drug criminality of the East Belfast UVF. A search was conducted by officers from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force and colleagues from the Tactical Support Group at a property in East Belfast in April last year, under the Misuse of Drugs Act. A quantity of drugs was seized along with cash and drugs-related paraphernalia.

“As part of the sentencing, a Destruction Order was imposed for the drugs and relevant paraphernalia recovered, as well as the court granting a forfeiture order in respect of the cash seized.

Detective Sergeant Price continued: “The Paramilitary Crime Task Force is committed to tackling those groups who make a living from crime. These people don’t care about the devastating effects of illegal drugs. They care nothing for the lives and relationships ruined along the way.

“If you have any information on the supply or use of illegal drugs, please contact police on 101, or online at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 08000 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org .”