Men in court after loyalist paramilitary raids

Four men have appeared in court following Paramilitary Crime Taskforce raids in the greater Belfast area.

The police operation, which took place on Friday, was targeting criminal activities of the UVF and drug dealing.

On Saturday morning, three men appeared separately in the dock at Belfast Magistrates’ Court charged in connection with the supply of Class A drugs.

They were: Darren Baine, aged 29 and from Cheviot Avenue in east Belfast; Mark Rainey, aged 38 and from St Patrick’s Walk in east Belfast; and 27-year-old Andrew Crawford from Cairndore Grange in Newtownards.

Baine and Crawford both made bail applications but were refused. Rainey didn’t apply for bail but will appeal in court again next week.

All three were remanded in custody until a later date.

The court heard the fourth man to appear, a 22-year-old, was arrested in the course of the same police operation would be treated as a stand alone case, as his involved alleged drug dealing between friends and wasn't linked.

Four more men - aged 32, 47, 48 and 48 - are due before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on 18 April, also charged with being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug.

Another man aged 34 is charged with unlawfully obtaining personal data and is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates' Court on 18 April.

Police added that a 32-year-old man arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class A controlled drug with intent to supply has been released on bail pending further enquiries.

A 40-year-old man arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class B controlled drug and other offences has been released to be reported to the PPS.