Four held in investigation targeting INLA 'criminality'
A major police crackdown on the criminal activities of the INLA has been launched, with more than 200 officers involved in raids and arrest operations across greater Belfast.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) and Her Majesty's Revenues and Customs (HMRC) took part in Friday's series of swoops against the supposedly on-ceasefire Irish National Liberation Army.
The west Belfast offices of the Irish Republican Socialist Party, the political wing of the INLA, was one of 12 properties raided in various parts of Belfast, Lisburn, Crumlin and Newtownabbey.
Update on the significant policing operation in the greater Belfast area today. #endingtheharmpic.twitter.com/hMW3a7e72k
-- PSNI (@PoliceServiceNI) April 13, 2018
Four men were arrested in the operations.
Three of the suspects were detained under the Terrorism Act and a fourth on suspicion of human trafficking and controlling prostitution.
The crime fighting organisations involved form part of the Stormont established paramilitary crime task force.
The IRSP described the operations as "political policing".
