Two Belfast men have been jailed after police smashed a £200,000 drugs gang.
Ciaran McAuley, (27) was sentenced to 37 months for a string of drugs offences including the sale and supply of Class B substances, concealing criminal property and possession of a Class B controlled drug.
McAuley will spend half of his sentence behind bars with the other half set to be spent on licence.
Police found £200,000 in accounts linked to Ciaran McAuley
His accomplice Brendan Glacken (27) was sentenced to two and a half years, half of which he will spend in prison for the possession of a Class B controlled drug with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply of a Class B controlled drug and possession of a Class A controlled drug.
Brendan Glacken was jailed for his part in the operation. PICTURE PSNI
It comes after police found £8,000 worth of drugs paraphernalia and mobile phones during a series of raids across West Belfast in June 2023.
Examination of phones seized found detailed chats relating to drugs, payments for drugs and the wholesale import of drugs into Northern Ireland.
They later unearthed approximately £200,000 in an account belonging to Ciaran McAuley, which they believe was related to the sale and supply of drugs over an 18 month period.
Caoimhe McAuley (28) was also given a two year suspended sentence for possession of a Class B controlled drug, assisting an offence and possession of fireworks without a licence.
In a statement on Wednesday, police the sentencing followed an investigation into “suspected drug criminality linked to the New IRA.”
Detective Chief Inspector McCallum, said: “In June 2023, a number of searches were conducted at properties and vehicles linked to the defendants in West Belfast and Dunmurry as part of a proactive investigation.
“A quantity of drugs with a street value of approximately £8,000, drug paraphernalia and mobile phones were seized.
“An extensive examination of messages on devices attributed to the defendants revealed the involvement in a vast number of exchanges regarding drugs and methods to pay for drugs.
“Information was also discovered relating to the transporting of drugs into Northern Ireland on a wholesale level.
“Further investigation into the financial accounts of Ciaran McAuley revealed criminal transactions related to the supply of drugs, of approximately £200,000 over an 18 month period.”