Two men arrested by detectives investigating criminality linked to INLA

It comes after two men were arrested on Wednesday (October 16) by detectives investigating criminality linked to the group.

A 57-year-old man was detained under the Terrorism Act in the Galliagh area of Derry/Londonderry while a19-year-old was arrested under the Terrorism Act and the Misuse of Drugs Act in the Strabane area. They were both taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite for questioning. The 19-year-old was later released.

Officers also conducted three searches and a number of items were seized, including a large quantity of documentation, mobile phones and electronic devices.

PSNI Detective Inspector Tom McClure said the search and arrest operation was part of an ongoing investigation into the criminality of INLA in the north west area of Northern Ireland.

“This group are a service priority for the Paramilitary Crime Task Force due to the level of threat, risk and harm they pose to our communities, and the breadth and depth of their criminality,” he added.

“INLA in the north west are involved in violence, extortion and the supply of controlled drugs, illicit cigarettes and counterfeit goods and this strand of the investigation looks to take action against those directing this criminality and money laundering.”

Det Insp McClure said part of the operation also related to an investigation into an incident on May 20 this year in the Divis area of Belfast, when an individual “recklessly used an automatic weapon to fire a series of shots into the air in a heavily populated area”.

“The INLA in Derry/Londonderry and Strabane claim to be protecting their communities by shooting people who they accuse of being involved in crime but the reality is that they use violence and intimidation to control and exploit their communities,” he added.

“Their real motivation for using extreme brutality is to try and ensure that no one speaks out or encroaches on what they see as ‘their patch’, where they try to run organised criminal rackets solely for their own financial gain. Sometimes they even shoot people who they feel do not show them ‘respect’ or who they simply do not like.

“The criminal justice system is the method that works when dealing with criminality such as drug dealing or anti-social behaviour. In fact, 78 per cent of people subjected to paramilitary style attacks re-offend, quickly, and often at a level more serious than before. In contrast, the re-offending rates of people who are dealt with through the criminal justice system are much lower – at less than a third –clearly demonstrating there is a better more effective alternative.

“Despite this, there has been an increase in the number of paramilitary-style attacks over the past few weeks, which we believe have been carried out by INLA. The actions of this paramilitary group of thugs will do nothing but condemn communities to an escalated level of criminality, undermining the good work of others in the community who are trying to improve the lives and prospects of those in the local area.”

Det Insp McClure said its latest operation was evidence of the PSNI’s “commitment to end paramilitary organised criminality in all its forms whether that be drug dealing, intimidation or paramilitary assaults”.