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National Crime Agency officers, alongside colleagues from the Police Service of Northern Ireland, moved in to detain a 23-year-old man at his home address yesterday morning (Tuesday). He was questioned and released pending a report.

A second man, aged 51, handed himself in to a police station this morning and was arrested. He remains in custody and is being questioned.

The arrests form part of an ongoing PCTF investigation into the alleged organised crime activities of the South East Antrim UDA. The investigation saw five men arrested in Carrickfergus in March. Four were later charged.

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A controlled drugs, following a PCTF operation in Carrick.

NCA Belfast branch commander David Cunningham said: “Working with our partners in the Paramilitary Crime Task Force we are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle groups involved in organised criminal activity in Northern Ireland.

“These gangs attempt to dominate communities through violence, intimidation, fear and exploitation. The NCA and our law enforcement colleagues will do all we can to bring that to an end.”

Detective Superintendent Zoe McKee from the PSNI’s Criminal Investigations Branch added: “Our collective focus remains on the organised criminality of those who hide under the banner of a paramilitary organisation.

“Through the targeted and joint approach of law enforcement within the PCTF, we will continue to doggedly pursue those who are causing real harm to their own communities through the distribution and supply of illicit drugs.

“If you have information that would help us to do this, call police on the non-emergency number 101, or 999 in an emergency.

“You can also submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/”

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Click here to read Suspected drugs haul during UDA probe-linked Carrickfergus searches

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Two arrested in Carrick as part of PCTF investigation into South East Antrim UDA