Pair arrested following £450k drugs seizure released on bail

The siezure follows searches of four addresses in the north and east of Belfast on Thursday

Two people arrested following a drugs seizure in Belfast have been released on police bail.

It follows the discovery of drugs with an estimated value of £450,000 by the PSNI and UK Border Force, in the north and east of the city on Thursday.

A 34-year-old man and a 36-year old woman were arrested on suspicion of a number of charges.

They have both been released to allow officers to make further enquiries, police said.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the 300mg tablets, labelled as pregabalin, appear to have been imported from outside the European Union and "bear all the hallmarks of being counterfeit".

That means they are "not licenced for human consumption in the UK or EU", PSNI Det Insp Kelly said.

Despite their labelling, Det Insp Kelly added, their "exact content may not be what is described on the packaging".

"Sadly in recent times a number of people have lost their lives to consumption of medication similar to this or mixing with other medications.

"If you purchase and consume these drugs, not only are you funding organised criminal gangs activities, you are effectively playing Russian roulette with your own life."

Police have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.