Police in Northern Ireland have arrested six people as part of an operation targeting the drug dealing activities of the East Belfast Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).

The PSNI said five men, aged between 24 and 40, and a 46-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the supply of Class A drugs.

The arrests were made after seven searches were carried out in East and North Belfast, Ards and Newtownabbey.

“Suspected illegal drugs” were found at four of the addresses searched.

PSNI Chief Superintendent Jonathan Roberts said the Paramilitary Crime Task Force (PCTF) target five key groups that police believe “pose the greatest risk, harm and threat to our communities.”

“The East Belfast UVF has been a priority for the PCTF since its inception due to the breadth and scale of their involvement in serious crime, including the supply of drugs and the violence and coercion that goes hand in hand with this,” he said.

“As with all of the key groups under investigation by the PCTF, they exist for the sole purpose of exploiting and controlling their own communities.

“Criminals that involve themselves in illegal drugs cause serious harm and misery in the community and can expect to be the subject of police investigation.”

He said police will continue to target paramilitary groups and tackle drugs and criminality in the community.”

He urged anyone who is “living in fear of criminals” to contact police.