Arrests made in cross border crime crackdown

TWELVE people have been arrested as part of a major crackdown against cross-border  and rural crime.

Officers from the Tyrone area were part of a cross border Joint Agency Task Force operation that took place yesterday, Wednesday, February 17, focusing on rural crime.

Twelve arrests were made and three vehicles were seized following the operation which spanned around border Districts including Fermanagh and Omagh, Derry and Strabane and Mid Ulster.

An Garda Síochána resources included Garda North Western Regional Armed Support Unit, the Garda Air Support Unit, regular Policing Units, Detective Branches, and roads policing units from the Louth, Cavan/Monaghan, Sligo/Leitrim, and Donegal divisions.

Superintendent Alywin Barton said: “This operation reflects our ongoing efforts to reduce and prevent cross-border crime and disrupt the movements and activities of Organised Crime Gangs.

“We recognise the harm caused in our local communities as a result of rural criminal activity and we are committed to working with our partners to keep everyone safe on both sides of the border.

“This operation involved high visibility patrols and coordinated activity to detect crime and provide reassurance to the public.

“As a result there were 12 arrests for offences including drink driving and warrants relating to ongoing investigations into drugs, burglary, theft, assault and criminal damage.

“There were eight drugs seizures with the largest being approximately £100 of suspected Class A and there were three vehicles seized when they were detected being driven with no insurance.”