Agency to target farm 'assets'

Police have recovered millions of pounds of illegal assets

A government agency set up to confiscate the proceeds of crime has taken steps to seize property in County Londonderry which it says are the proceeds of drug dealing.

The Assets Recovery Agency has successfully applied in the High Court for an Interim Receiving Order in respect of a farm, livestock and houses in the Limavady area, worth more than £400,000.

A receiver has been appointed to take control of the assets in the area which the agency believes are the proceeds of unlawful conduct.

The agency said in a statement it would now seek to show the assets were "the proceeds of drug dealing".

On Wednesday, the receiver took action to enforce the order and had begun an investigation, it added.

"When this is complete the agency will make an application to the High Court for a Recovery Order.

"If this is granted some or all of the assets may be forfeited," it said.

The agency was established in 2002 to crack down on the activities of paramilitary groups and crime gangs.

A series of asset seizures have already been made in the past 12 months amounting to millions of pounds.