£6 million worth of drugs seized in Northern Ireland

Cannabis haul was discovered at the port in Belfast, hidden in a lorry transporting soft drinks

The cannabis seized at Belfast port is understood to have a street value in Northern Ireland of £6 million (€6.9 million). Photograph: PA (file image)
The cannabis seized at Belfast port is understood to have a street value in Northern Ireland of £6 million (€6.9 million). Photograph: PA (file image)

A lorry driver has been arrested by police officers in connection with a 300kg cannabis seizure at the port in Belfast.

The drugs, which have a street value in Northern Ireland of £6 million (€6.9 million), were seized by officers attached to the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), which fights organised crime.

The 45-year-old driver from Portadown was detained after his lorry, which contained a consignment of soft drinks, was stopped and searched by officers on its arrival into the port earlier today. The driver remains in custody.

NCA branch commander David Cunningham said: “This is a massive haul of cannabis which would have ended up on the streets of Northern Ireland.

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“Losing this amount of drugs will be a huge blow to the organised crime group behind this importation.

“We will continue to work with our partners to stop illegal drugs ending up in our communities.”