Three men charged on suspicion of drugs offences following car search in North Belfast

Q Newsdesk

Three men are due to appear in Belfast Magistrates charged on suspicion of a number of drugs offences following a car search in North Belfast.

The men - one aged 22 and two aged 39 -  were stopped on the M2 motorway near Fortwilliam on Thursday.

Police said:

Detectives from PSNI’s Organised Crime Unit have seized a quantity of suspected class A drugs and arrested three men, following the search of a car in north Belfast on Thursday 26 July.

Shortly before 11pm  police stopped a Vauxhall Mokka car on the Fortwilliam off-slip of the M2 Motorway.  Three men, two aged 39 and one aged 22, were arrested on suspicion of a number of drugs offences.  All three remain in police custody at this time.  A number of follow-up searches have been conducted in the north Belfast, Holywood and Ballymena areas in connection with organised crime and police enquiries are ongoing.

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Foster said:

“Tackling the illegal supply and use of drugs is a priority for police and seizures such as this demonstrate our ongoing commitment to tackling the scourge of drugs in our society.  The PSNI is committed to making Northern Ireland a hostile environment for those in our community who are involved in serious drug crimes. We will seek to identify them, arrest them and place them before the courts.

“I would encourage anyone who has any information about the use or supply of illegal drugs to contact police on the non-emergency number 101 with any information they have. Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.”

The Police Ombudsman has been informed that a taser stun gun was used by detectives during the incident.

In relation to the charges, The PSNI said:

Detectives have charged a 39 year old man with a number of offences including being concerned in the production of Class A drugs; conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and the possession of criminal property.

A second 39 year old man has been charged with a number of offences including  being concerned in the production of Class A drugs and conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

A third man, aged 22, has been charged with possession of Class A drugs.​​​​​​​

The three men are due to appear at Belfast Magistrates’ Court later today, Saturday 28 July.

As is normal procedure, all charges will be reviewed the PPS.