Detectives from the PSNI’s Organised Crime Unit have charged a 33-year-old man following an operation in the Belfast Harbour area yesterday morning, Tuesday, December 20.

The man has been charged with possession of a Class B Controlled Drug and possession of a Class B Controlled Drug with intent to supply.

He is due to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court tomorrow, Wednesday 21st December.

As is normal procedure all charges are reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.

The charges relate to the seizure of suspected cannabis with an estimated street value of £1m which was found packed into divan beds after a vehicle was searched at Belfast Harbour.

Detective Inspector Shaw said: “This search, seizure and arrest was conducted as part of our ongoing commitment to address the criminality linked to drug importation, supply and use that often results in drug debts, drug addiction and drug related deaths within our communities.

“Through multi-agency efforts we will continue to carry out operations, to break the cycle of those who seek to cause harm through the illegal importation and supply of drugs in Northern Ireland, and to dismantle the organised criminal gangs who profit from this incredibly harmful activity.

“This type of large scale importation is conducted by sophisticated organised crime gangs and these gangs are utterly ruthless in their exploitation of the most vulnerable in our society and they cause this misery for no other reason than personal profit.

“We cannot tackle this scourge without the help of the public. I appeal to anyone with information about illegal drug use or supply, to call police on the non-emergency number 101.”

Alternatively, you can submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via

http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/

The independent charity Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/