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Five seizures and three arrests – and police promise more with your help

A man has been remanded in custody on charges in connection with the seizure of £17,000 worth of suspected heroin in County Armagh on Tuesday.

Stephen Heraty, of Edward Street in Portadown, appeared at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday).

No bail application was made on behalf of the 28-year-old during the brief hearing.

He is charged with possession of a Class A drug (namely heroin) and possession with intent to supply. Accused is also charged with possessing suspected cannabis resin and herbal cannabis.

Heraty was remanded in custody to appear again at the end of the month via video link.

The accused had been arrested in Portadown on Tuesday as part of Operation Torus.

Today, the PSNI provided more details of that local operation, which focused primarily in the Armagh and Lurgan areas.

A total of 13 properties were searched which resulted in five drug seizures and three arrests.

The proactive day-long operation was targeting street-level drug dealing across the district, with the message being that communities hold the key to helping take drugs off our streets.

Reiterating The PSNI’s ongoing commitment to tackling drugs, Chief Inspector Jon Burrows said: “Our aim is to get drugs off our streets, and to give people the confidence to report drug dealing in their community. The police and other agencies are doing their utmost to tackle the scourge of drugs, but information and local knowledge are key.

“We know that street-level drug dealing is happening across all districts throughout Northern Ireland, but we need the help and support of local communities to remove this activity from our streets.

“If you know or suspect  that illegal drugs are being sold or distributed in your area, please pick up the phone and contact us.

“We will continue to disrupt and arrest drug dealers involved in the sale and supply of drugs, bring individuals before the courts and work with communities and partner agencies to reduce the threat of harmful and illegal activity.

“We are asking everyone for their support and co-operation in tackling this problem through the criminal justice system.

“This is about empowering and working with local communities to make their neighbourhoods safer, reducing the threat posed by street-level drugs and dealing with offenders robustly through the criminal justice system.”

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