Dissident link to illegal factory

Police have linked a counterfeiting operation to dissident republicans

Police have said a counterfeiting factory discovered in County Tyrone is linked to dissident republicans.

Four men have been arrested in connection with the raid at a farm property in the Aughnagar Road area of Cappagh in Dungannon.

Thousands of fake DVDs, CDs, counterfeiting equipment and cash were taken away during the planned searches.

Police believe the operation could be worth millions of pounds to those involved.

Superintendent Frances Nolan described the find as "significant".

"We believe we have disturbed a criminal gang who are making anything up to £100,000," she said.

"What we have here is just simply items for moving on, this is not a store room, and there is a couple of hundred thousand pounds worth of stuff in the room.

"We believe we can link this to dissident republican terrrorism."

A computerised printing press and up to 70 DVD recording machines were also discovered at the site.