A 52-year-old man has today, Wednesday 18th March, been sentenced in relation four counts of offering to supplying Class C controlled drugs.

Ian Cotter from west Belfast was sentenced to a 2 month custodial sentence, suspended for 3 years.

Detective Chief Inspector McCallum from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Serious Crime Branch said: “The offences were detected in May 2024 as part of an investigation by Serious Crime Branch Detectives into drugs criminality linked to the New IRA.

"We recognise the harm that illegal drugs can cause communities and we are committed to tackling issues of serious crime in our community.

"I would encourage anyone with information that could assist in our efforts to contact us on the non-emergency number 101, or submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/. "

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/