£35m seized by crime task force

Criminal assets worth more than £35m have been seized or frozen during the last year by law enforcement agencies in Northern Ireland.

The figures were revealed in the annual report of the Organised Crime Task Force launched on Thursday.

Task force chairman Paul Goggins said drugs worth £4m were seized and cash transit robberies halved.

"The OCTF will continue to take the fight against organised crime in NI to the doorsteps of criminals," he said.

"Where we can, we will bring those in organised crime before the courts.

"However, if this is not possible, we will strip them of their assets and take away the trappings of wealth obtained through criminal activity."

The launch was also used to put on display some of the resources available to the multi-agency group, including a HM Revenue and Customs cutter and a PSNI helicopter.

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