£250,000 of 'controlled drugs, cash, criminal assets and weapons' seized in Mid and East Antrim District during October
Ballymena’s District Support Team seized an estimated £250,000 worth of controlled drugs, cash, criminal assets and weapons across the Mid and East Antrim District in October, the PSNI has said.
Consisting of six officers who work across the District, the team deals with priorities set out by the District Commander and the Policing and Community Safety Partnership.
They also work with other teams both in and outside of the PSNI to proactively deal with crime and other matters impacting communities.
Inspector McToal said: "The team are trained in a variety of specialities ranging from pursuit driving and method of entry (forcing entry to premises), to field testing drugs and administering evidential breath tests. Throughout the summer the team were deployed in public order situations, also assisting with various parades and events throughout the district.
"I want to highlight that in October, the team seized an estimated £250,000 worth of controlled drugs, cash, criminal assets and 23 weapons including seven suspected firearms.
"On Friday, October 17 in Whitehead, one of these searches resulted in the seizure of drugs and cash in excess of £100,000. A 31-year-old man arrested in connection with this is due to appear before Belfast Magistrate's Court in November.
"This total doesn’t include the ongoing work of our Local and Neighbourhood Policing colleagues or other departments within the PSNI.
"None of this would have been achievable without the help and support of our local community; that is invaluable and that remains the case.
"If you wish to report a crime, you can speak to an officer, contact 101 or speak with Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."