DRUGS HAUL

The drugs haul, with a street value of £5,000, was discovered in the Mounthill Way area last week.

During Monday’s press briefing, officers confirmed that a 46 year old man had been charged with possession of Class B drugs and cultivating cannabis.

He is due to appear at Coleraine Magistrates Court on Monday 12th November. As is normal procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the PPS.

It is believed the charges are in relation to the seizure of 10 suspected cannabis plants from residential premises at the Mounthill Way area on Tuesday 16th October by officers from the Ballymoney Neighbourhood Policing Team.

Last Friday, police in Coleraine invited members of the press to view a sample of drugs, many of which have been seized in the H District since the start of Operation Torus.

The haul, which included cannabis, herbal cannabis, cocaine, a bulking agent used by cocaine dealers and ecstasy, had been seized after 193 local searches and 99 drug finds - resulting in a quarter of a million pounds worth of drugs being seized in H District alone.

H District Commander, Chief Superintendent Chris Noble said:

“Since the 20 August, 2,388 searches have been carried out across the Province as a result of Operation Torus.

“£1 million worth of drugs have been seized and 407 people have been arrested.

“In H District, which includes Coleraine, Ballymoney, Moyle Ballymena and Larne, 193 searches have been carried out and there have been 99 drug finds.

“In the region of a quarter of a million pounds worth of drugs have been seized in H District. Operation Torus specifically targeted street level dealing.

“This operation will continue, but we need the help of the public.

“I would appeal to any member of the public, who has information, not matter how small they feel it is to get in touch. It could be the final piece in the jigsaw that we need.”

* If you have information which you believe will help police, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.