These are the thousands of pounds worth of drugs that were set to flood the streets of North Belfast.
The NBN understands that the drugs were seized by men claiming to be republicans from a house close to Holy Cross Boys’ Primary School in Ardoyne.
Earlier this week, community workers - who told us they had the drugs passed on to them - contacted the North Belfast News and asked us to witness the drugs being destroyed.
The packages, which contained large amounts of what appeared to be both cocaine and speed, contained small bags marked with skull and cross bones, often used during the street-selling of drugs and to identify a specific dealer for repeat custom.
The community workers, who did not wish to be identified, said that they were told republicans had entered ‘a known drug house’ in the Ardoyne area, seized the drugs and instructed the man in the property to leave the country.
“We were told to pass on the message that the man is no longer welcome on the streets of the north and that the sale of drugs in our community is not welcome,” one man said.
The incident comes after information gathered by the North Belfast News found that less than a third of drug seizures carried out by police in North Belfast over a six month period had led to criminal convictions. The information found that despite a total of 155 drug seizures made by the PSNI between April and September this year, just 49 people had been charged in relation to drug-related offences in the same period.
A PSNI spokseperson said, “Police work in partnership with communities to tackle a range of different crime types including the supply and distribution of drugs.”
We actively encourage individuals to report any suspicions either directly to police or anonymously through independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
