Police ‘proactive’ against drug dealers

Last Thursday night’s Partnership meeting in Ahoghill heard from T/Chief Inspector Sean Fitzpatrick that a number of pro-active investigations are ongoing to target the supply of controlled drugs locally and that there have been a number of successes leading to persons being charged and remanded in custody.

While illegal drugs are the staple trade of the criminal gangs in operation locally, the T/Ch Insp. said they also become involved in conspiring and commiting in burglary, handling stolen goods, fraud, vehicle theft and metal theft.

He added that each known gang in H District is carefully managed by a Detective Inspector from CID and that a clear strategy is in place, and carried out by all officers, for disrupting/dismantling their activities.

He reported to the meeting that two gangs, neither of which were based in Ballymena, had recently been “dismantled and seriously frustrated” in H District.

Responding to that news, Cllr Roy Gillespie said: “Keep up the good work on gangs - it’s a definite concern to people”.