WIREDGOV

National Crime Agency officers working as part of the Paramilitary Crime Task Force executed a search of a residential property in the West Belfast yesterday (30 June) as part of an operation targeting the proceeds of crime. 

Following the search, during which mobile devices, documentation and a quantity of cash was seized for further investigation, a Property Freezing Order was served, restraining three properties all located in the West Belfast area.  

The order was granted to the NCA at Belfast High Court on 18 June and it prevents anyone from selling or dissipating the value of the properties while the investigation continues.

NCA Senior Manager Billy Beattie yesterday said:

“The NCA, along with our partners in the PCTF, is committed to ensuring that property obtained with the proceeds of unlawful conduct will not remain in the hands of those committing criminal acts.

“Our investigation into the source of funds used to purchase these three properties will continue with the material seized during the search”.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland, HM Revenue & Customs and the National Crime Agency have established the Paramilitary Crime Task Force to tackle criminality linked to paramilitarism as part of the Executive's action plan on Tackling Paramilitary Activity, Criminality, and Organised Crime.