More than £26.5m of drugs seized in Northern Ireland organised crime crackdown

The figures were published in the OCTF’s annual report by justice minister Naomi Long, which sets out the latest assessment of organised crime threats and the response from criminal justice agencies.

The report said organised crime groups continued to play a significant role in the supply of illicit drugs in Northern Ireland, with cocaine the most commonly seized Class A drug during the year.

PSNI officers made 6,951 drug seizures and 3,128 drug-related arrests, while 146 arrests were linked to organised crime groups.

A total of 228 restraint orders, cash seizures, asset recovery actions and account freezing orders were also carried out.

The report also highlighted efforts to combat modern slavery and human trafficking, with 651 potential victims referred to the National Referral Mechanism, the UK framework for identifying and supporting victims.

Ms Long said the work of disrupting organised crime groups remained “complex and demanding” as criminal activity continued to evolve.

She said: “This past year has again presented significant challenges for Northern Ireland, not least continuing financial pressures and demands on public services. Despite this, my commitment to making Northern Ireland a safer place, with less crime and fewer victims, remains unwavering.

“The work of disrupting Organised Crime Groups (OCGs), pursuing offenders, and bringing them to justice remains both complex and demanding. As the nature of the threat evolves, policing and law enforcement partners continue to show adaptability and innovation, embracing new technologies and responding effectively to both established and emerging threats.

“I am deeply grateful to all the agencies involved for delivering another strong year of results, and for their relentless efforts to target those who profit from harm, exploitation, and fear in our communities.”