DRUGS SEIZED IN RATHCOOLE RAID
POLICE officers seized cannabis plants with an estimated value of more than £9,000 during a planned search operation in the Rathcoole estate last week, it has been revealed.
The plants were discovered at a property in Glenbane Avenue on Thursday (October 22) during a raid by officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team.
A 48-year-old man has since been charged with drugs offences and is due to appear at Laganside Magistrates Court on November 19.
As is normal procedure, the charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.
Mayor John Scott, who represents the Macedon area, praised the efforts of the PSNI at ridding the local community of drugs.
"It's good to see the police working to fight the scourge of drugs. I'm glad that these plants have been seized and destroyed and that the drugs they would have produced won't make the streets," he said.
The Chairman of Newtownabbey District Policing Partnership, councillor Etta Mann, added: "This was a significant discovery by the police, and people in Rathcoole will be glad to get these drugs off the street.
"We too often see the tragic results of drug abuse and the damage they do to individuals and families. Community representatives have been warning against drug abuse in Rathcoole in recent weeks and it's good to see this significant amount of drugs being seized. I would congratulate the police officers on their good work."
The drugs find was also welcomed by local Progressive Unionist Party representative Phil Hamilton.
"People who produce and sell drugs have no place in the Rathcoole estate, and I would encourage anyone with information about this kind of activity to contact the police," he commented.
Meanwhile, during a separate search operation on Thursday at a house in Derrycoole Way in the estate a small quantity of cannabis was seized.
Police confirmed that a 40-year-old man has been reported to the Public Prosecution Service in connection with the find.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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