NI 'Lethal' Drug Gangs

Northern Ireland's drug gangs possess "lethal capabilities" through the possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives, a PSNI detective has said.

Detective Inspector Tom McClure is currently leading an investigation into the activities of a drugs gang in L'Derry.

He made the comments after two men from the city, 30-year-old Gary McPhillips and 28-year-old Ryan O’Reilly, were jailed for eight and two years respectively, in connection with the seizure of drugs and munitions in L'Derry two years ago.

Officers from Organised Crime Branch seized £20,000 worth of ecstasy and methedrone, three firearms and ammunition, two high explosive military specification hand grenades, an electric stun device and a CS gas canister following a police search at a property on Hawkin Street in December 2012 that was linked to McPhillips and O’Reilly.

The search was part of a follow-up investigation into the seizure of £800,000 worth of cannabis in the Glengalliagh area of the city in May 2012. Mark McPhillips was jailed for seven years and stripped of his assets after he was caught driving a van loaded with kitchen units containing the illegal drugs.

DI McClure said today: "These items which we recovered at Hawkin Street are worrying. They show a potential to cause serious injury or death, over and above the obvious harm posed by drugs. Thankfully, we have removed them before they can cause any damage.

"But there are worrying similarities to the violent paraphernalia associated with drugs gangs in large inner cities in Britain and Ireland where drugs are peddled for profit but cause nothing but destruction and where violence or the threat of violence are used to enforce these activities.

"We have taken this small arsenal which included a sub-machine gun, two handguns and two high explosive military specification hand grenades off the streets. We will continue to pursue any individual involved in organised criminality and drugs and put them before the courts. The criminal justice system is the only effective way of dealing with this community problem."

The sentences are to be served half in jail and half on licence. The court also imposed serious crime prevention orders on both men for five years to protect the community.

(IT/CD)