‘High-end’ cars, cash, and drugs are seized as PSNI squad swoops on suspected UDA targets

The Paramilitary Crime Task Force was supported by neighbourhood officers and the Tactical Support Group during the searches today.

In addition to the above items, they also found what they called “component parts of a suspected cannabis factory”.

A 26-year-old man has also been arrested on suspicion of a number of offences, including possession of Class A controlled drugs with intent to supply, and possessing and converting criminal property.

He was in custody in Belfast at time of writing.

The PSNI said officers carried out searches in “a number of houses” in an operation targeting the drugs criminality of South East Antrim UDA.

Approximately £8,000 cash was recovered along with two “high end” cars, and a quantity of suspected Class A and Class B controlled drugs.
The PSNI said the task force will “investigate all aspects of criminality being carried out by anyone purporting to be operating under the convenient flag of a paramilitary organisation”.

They added that “paramilitaries are not defenders of their communities, instead they are criminals who prey on vulnerable people and exploit any circumstances they can for their own gain”.
The South East Antrim UDA is a particularly volatile wing of the grouping, which has distanced itself from the mainstream of the organisation headquartered in south Belfast.

It claims control of territory including Carrickfergus, Larne, Greenisland, Newtownabbey, and parts of Belfast and north Down.

It is estimated the UDA in general has murdered over 400 people – although the exact number is unknown because of the use of covernames and unclaimed killings..