TWO people have been arrested and £15,000 worth of suspected heroin seized as part of a planned police operation targeting cross border drug smuggling.

Officers from Belfast District Support Team, assisted by Armed Response Unit and Air Support Unit, arrested the two people and seized quantities of class A and B drugs following a proactive policing operation on Sunday, June 6.

An Audi car was stopped as it was driving northbound on the A1 carriageway near Newry on Sunday evening, and with the assistance of a police drugs dog, a search of the vehicle was conducted.

Suspected heroin with an approximate street value of £15,000 was recovered as a result of the search and a 39 year old man and a 26 year old woman were arrested.

A follow up search was then carried out at a flat in the west Belfast area where a quantity of herbal cannabis and other drug related paraphernalia was recovered.

The man and woman have been arrested on suspicion of a number of offences including importing a controlled drug, possession of class A drugs and possession of class A drugs with intent to supply and both remain in custody at this time assisting officers with their enquiries.

Inspector James Murphy said: “We are all too familiar with the devastation drugs misuse can cause in communities and we continue to focus our efforts on removing illegal and dangerous drugs and targeting those involved in the sale and supply.

“If you have information about the use of supply of illegal drugs I would ask you to contact police on 101 or submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.

“You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.”