https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-67408106
The leadership of the east Belfast Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) has been stood down, a number of sources have told BBC News NI.
Up to eight individuals have been removed from their positions.
The action is said to have been ordered by the paramilitary group’s central hierarchy.
The east Belfast UVF has, for several years, been associated with involvement in serious criminality, such as drug dealing.
It has long been a priority target for the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI) paramilitary crime task force.
The move to stand down the leadership was revealed in a statement read at a number of Remembrance Sunday events.
It has not been seen by BBC News NI.
A UVF mural in east BelfastImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,
The paramilitary group is involved in dealing drugs and now eight of its leaders have been removed
However a senior loyalist source said it “became effective” from midnight and followed the conclusion of an internal “investigation” last week.
They said it was an attempt to “put clear blue sky between loyalism and those intent on criminal activity”.
The PSNI is believed to be aware of the development.
A security source told BBC News NI that intelligence information points to the ousting of the east Belfast UVF leadership.
They said the police will be monitoring next steps closely.
2px presentational grey line
Analysis box by Julian O’Neill, NI crime and justice correspondent
Image caption,
Julian O’Neill
Loyalism has been here before, promising to deal with criminality only for it to continue within its ranks.
But at the same time there will be those who see this is a positive step.
Time will be the judge.
Clearly it speaks to efforts by some in positions of influence within the UVF to embark on a transition journey.
In security circles no-one expects criminality to suddenly stop in east Belfast.
Will the former leadership now simply become an organised crime gang without the UVF badge?
And will it be a move which does not spark violence?
by HeWasDeadAllAlong
14 comments
Cue Newtownards style mutiny in east Belfast then ?
https://preview.redd.it/0ogo9d5e650c1.jpeg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9294c976aa139e434f2662ed57730e5415ded450
Words are cheap! These hoods have been dealing drugs, [Even to kids](https://www.irishnews.com/paywall/tsb/irishnews/irishnews/irishnews/news/northernirelandnews/2022/02/01/news/drug-laced-packets-of-sweets-seized-by-police-allegedly-targeted-at-children-court-hears-2575534/content.html), hurting their own communities by money laundering, money lending at extortionate rates, abusing, criminality, threats, Kneecapping , punishment beating and murder. They were given £ 3 million to transition during the peace process. Instead they spend it on Turkey teeth and coke fuelled holidays abroad. Enough of this!
What heroism from the UVF.
To stand down those that are especially illegal in an illegal organisation.
Lets read between the lines. One too many drug shipments has been intercepted by cops recently and these boys have been removed from their positions. These are just the top 3 results when you Google East Belfast UVF + drugs.
[https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/two-arrested-and-drugs-worth-20k-seized-in-police-operation-targeting-east-belfast-uvf/a1271535789.html](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/two-arrested-and-drugs-worth-20k-seized-in-police-operation-targeting-east-belfast-uvf/a1271535789.html)
[https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/courts/man-caught-with-uvf-linked-60k-block-of-cocaine-had-no-other-option-court-hears/a1044224085.html](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/courts/man-caught-with-uvf-linked-60k-block-of-cocaine-had-no-other-option-court-hears/a1044224085.html)
[https://www.sundayworld.com/news/northern-ireland-news/east-belfast-uvfs-crime-empire-on-verge-of-collapse-after-series-of-major-drugs-raids/a1559899674.html](https://www.sundayworld.com/news/northern-ireland-news/east-belfast-uvfs-crime-empire-on-verge-of-collapse-after-series-of-major-drugs-raids/a1559899674.html)
​
No doubt there will be Community Activists or DUP MLAs / MPs asking for a financial package to encourage these upstanding citizens a peaceful transition back into legitimate society
Did binlid waste management consultancy services release a statement on their behalf yet?
It would be interesting to see a report from the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning as to whether the UVF’s claim to have fully decommissioned in 2009 is still true or was even true in the first place.
Get Speeddial Singleton on the blower to his mates. Quickest way to find out
Franchise agreement terminated 😂 Sunday world whatsapp group fuckin exploding at the imminent rebrand of a breakaway faction, surely Jim McDowell is old as fuck and this sort of excitement could be bad for his health.
Removed from their positions how?
They’re all a law onto themselves, what central hierarchy does the UVF have?
It’s just a collection of bored old fanatics and drug dealers who do as they like virtually independent of each other. UVF is just the umbrella term for a loosely connected collection of criminal thugs.
Notice the PSNI haven’t much to say. This is just a load of hot shite smelling air.
Will it just be the good UVF from now on then, yeah?
‘Stand down’? Should be ‘put down’. You’ve had literal decades to disband and go away. Stop terrorist behavior and stop being ‘stakeholders’ to the dupers.
What’s happened anyway? Someone beating them at drug dealing or have the intelligence service had enough of them?
*”put clear blue sky between loyalism and those intent on criminal activity”.* Haha, I’m sorry, what!? Utter parody.
There’ll be lots of people weighing up if this is a good or bad thing – will their tick for gear be wiped clean or will those who have been stood down be looking payment in full sooner than expected? Bad time to have got a Henry on strap.
Lot of fonacab drivers will those income.
Blessed are the knee breakers.
https://youtu.be/lwWdBWKda3o?si=baUcUW4mVdW_4LMN
With the current political climate, including Irish reunification on the verge of being possible, I think this is an attempt to distance themselves from the current crop of petty criminals and drug dealers. I think it’s so that if they deem a return to violence necessary, they will attempt to not be perceived as the glorified drug gang that they currently are, and they will hope instead to be viewed as a paramilitary (terrorist) force.
That being said, it will all be in vain. The current drug dealers won’t drop the title of UVF just because the boss from the old days told them to. In addition, I seriously doubt that they could put up any form of violent resistance. They lack the structure, skills, weaponry and probably collusion to do so.