PSNI investigating more than 60 OCGs in Northern Ireland
Work to disrupt organised crime groups (OCGs) in Northern Ireland has “delivered another year of excellent results”.
The latest Annual Report and Threat Assessment for the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) shows 61 OCGs were being investigated by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), with three-quarters of these involved in the supply of drugs.
Cocaine is the most seized Class A drug in Northern Ireland – accounting for 94 per cent of all incidents involving Class A drugs.
In total, 222 arrests were made by PSNI related to OCGs, with 8,472 drug seizures made.
In addition, 496 potential victims of modern slavery and human trafficking were referred to the National Referral Mechanism – a UK framework to identify and support victims – and 187 restraint orders, cash seizures, lifted assets and account freezing orders were made.
Justice Minister Naomi Long said: “I am grateful for all the agencies involved in delivering another year of excellent results and for their continued, relentless efforts to tackle organised criminality and seize the proceeds of crime.
“OCGs show no regard for the harm they are causing to individuals and communities, they are only interested in lining their own pockets. As the results of OCTF partner agencies’ joint operations show – the harm caused to individuals and communities by these criminals will not be tolerated.”
The 94-page report outlines partners’ efforts to thwart drugs, counterfeit goods, offensive weapons and cybercrime across Northern Ireland.
Ms Long praised the OCTF partners’ collective efforts to identify emerging issues and said: “It is assessed that 75 per cent of organised crime groups are involved in the supply of drugs, so police alone seizing drugs with an estimated street value of £21 million with Border Force and National Crime Agency involved in further seizures, is a significant blow to these groups.
“The excellent work and persistence in pursuing criminals who set out to exploit, threaten and spread misery across communities should not be underestimated but everybody’s help is needed to combat organised crime.”