28/04/2026
Man Charged Following Record £4m Cannabis Seizure at Larne Harbour
A 53-year-old man is due to appear in court today following the seizure of suspected cannabis with an estimated street value of £4 million at Larne Harbour.
The discovery was made on Monday, 27 April, when detectives from the PSNI's Organised Crime Branch, working alongside the An Garda Síochána National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau, intercepted a lorry travelling from Scotland. Upon searching the vehicle, officers found the suspected drugs concealed within a large number of boxes.
The operation was conducted under the Joint Agency Task Force (JATF), a collaborative initiative designed to tackle cross-jurisdictional organised crime across the island of Ireland.
The driver has since been charged with possession of a Class B controlled drug and possession with intent to supply. Additionally, he faces charges for road traffic offences, including having no driving licence and using a motor vehicle without insurance. He is expected to appear before Antrim Magistrates' Court, sitting at Ballymena, on Tuesday 28 April.
A PSNI spokesperson commented: "We believe the drugs in this consignment were intended to supply various organised crime groups across the island of Ireland. All partners within the Task Force are totally committed to working together to reduce the misery caused by drug smuggling and to dismantle the organised groups profiting from this type of criminality.
"Some people may think that the illegal distribution of cannabis is not a big deal. I'd ask them to just take a moment to think about the violence and exploitation that the organised criminals behind this could have wreaked upon our communities with the millions of pounds of profit they potentially stood to make."
Police underscored the importance of removing such a significant income stream from criminal networks, noting the potential harm the volume of drugs could have caused to vulnerable individuals and children.
Authorities continue to appeal to the public for assistance. Anyone with information regarding illegal drug supply is encouraged to contact the PSNI on 101, submit a report online at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.
The discovery was made on Monday, 27 April, when detectives from the PSNI's Organised Crime Branch, working alongside the An Garda Síochána National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau, intercepted a lorry travelling from Scotland. Upon searching the vehicle, officers found the suspected drugs concealed within a large number of boxes.
The operation was conducted under the Joint Agency Task Force (JATF), a collaborative initiative designed to tackle cross-jurisdictional organised crime across the island of Ireland.
The driver has since been charged with possession of a Class B controlled drug and possession with intent to supply. Additionally, he faces charges for road traffic offences, including having no driving licence and using a motor vehicle without insurance. He is expected to appear before Antrim Magistrates' Court, sitting at Ballymena, on Tuesday 28 April.
"Some people may think that the illegal distribution of cannabis is not a big deal. I'd ask them to just take a moment to think about the violence and exploitation that the organised criminals behind this could have wreaked upon our communities with the millions of pounds of profit they potentially stood to make."
Police underscored the importance of removing such a significant income stream from criminal networks, noting the potential harm the volume of drugs could have caused to vulnerable individuals and children.
Authorities continue to appeal to the public for assistance. Anyone with information regarding illegal drug supply is encouraged to contact the PSNI on 101, submit a report online at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A dry but cloudy morning with low cloud and some misty patches possible, brighter spells possible in the west. Cloud breaking up from late morning to give some long sunny spells in the afternoon. Light winds and feeling warm. Maximum temperature 18 °C.Tonight:It will be a dry night with largely clear skies, which will give late sunshine in the evening. Overnight, a few mist and fog patches may form inland. Minimum temperature 2 °C.