Arrest follows drugs seizure

Detectives from the Tactical Crime Team discovered approximately £75,000 of mephedrone and other suspected controlled drugs during a search of a house in the Stevenson Terrace area of Lurgan on Tuesday, December 6. Following the seizure a 38-year-old man was arrested. He is currently assisting police with their enquiries. Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Wright said: “We are constantly working to remove illegal drugs from circulation and this seizure will prevent these drugs from harming a large number of people in our society. “With support and information from the community we will continue to conduct searches, make seizures and interrupt and stop this criminal activity.” Ulster Unionist MLA Jo-Anne Dobson said: “Too many young lives have been torn apart by the harmful effects of drugs, with journeys begun which almost always end in disaster. “This news will be wholly welcomed by the people of Lurgan and the surrounding area as this haul of drugs have now been successfully put beyond use and can no-longer be used to harm the wider community. “The sheer scale of this cocktail of drugs illustrates just how large the market for illegal drugs is and this is especially dangerous in our local area with its large number of young people. “I commend the actions of the PSNI Tactical Crime Team who have been instrumental in this operation. The message is being sent out loud and clear that anyone who tries to deal in drugs in our local community will be both apprehended and brought to justice. The PSNI strategy in tackling this issue in this area appears to be working very well. “Our local community is safer now that these drugs have been taken off the streets,” said Mrs Dobson “Drug dealers succeed when people with information remain silent therefore our communities must speak out and allow the police to continue their important work in saving the lives of young people across the borough. “The continued help of the public is crucial in tackling these issues and I would urge anybody who has any information about this or related matters to contact police urgently.” DUP Councillor Carla Lockhart said: “I would like to commend the police on their actions and would hope that the perpetrator is brought to justice. “Drugs can do a lot of damage to anyone who takes them and I welcome the news that this large quantity of drugs is out of circulation. “Anyone who has information on such illegal activities should contact the police. Working together we can stop the drug trade in our community.” Anyone with information or concerns about illegal drugs should contact police on 0845 600 8000.