Republican and loyalist paramilitary organised crime groups (OCGs) continue to impact all areas of society in Northern Ireland. Currently around one third of Northern Ireland -based OCGs are paramilitary organisations or have suspected paramilitary links.

The Paramilitary Crime Task Force (PCTF) are currently proactively investigating six paramilitary organisations:

• East Belfast UVF
• West Belfast UDA
• North and West Belfast INLA
• North West INLA
• South East Antrim UDA
• North Antrim UDA

These groups are involved in all forms of criminality including; paramilitary assaults and shootings, supply and distribution of controlled drugs, blackmail (extortion), intimidation, money lending and money laundering.

Despite the pressures of COVID-19, the number of searches and arrests conducted by the PCTF this year were among the highest since it was established.