24-year-old Cookstown man arrested after £250k cocaine haul

The drugs were found by detectives from the PSNI’s Organised Crime Branch during a proactive operation on Wednesday 24 June.

Follow up searches in both Belfast and Cookstown turned up further suspected drugs, cutting agents and other items believed to be used in criminal enterprise.

Detective Inspector Trevor Stevenson said: “Officers carried out a planned stop of a vehicle on Forthriver Road [Belfast] at around 4.15pm and uncovered a number of packages of white powder.

“A basic field test indicated the powder was cocaine, a class A drug. At present the seizure is thought to be worth somewhere between £250,000 and £300,000 however further testing will be required.

“A 26-year-old man was arrested by officers at the scene and remains in police custody this morning assisting us with our enquiries.

“A 24-year-old man was arrested during the Cookstown search and remains in custody this morning.

“PSNI remains committed to tackling the sale and supply of drugs into Northern Ireland and will continue to carry out intelligence led and proactive operations like this one.

“Information from communities is vital in this and we would encourage people to continue to raise their suspicions with us and enable us to take action against the organised crime gangs involved in this kind of criminality.”