Organised Crime Task Force results welcomed

Work to disrupt organised crime groups has ‘delivered another year of excellent results'.

Justice Minister Naomi Long made the comments as the Annual Report and Threat Assessment for the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) was published.

“I am grateful for all the agencies involved in delivering another year of excellent results and for their continued, relentless efforts to tackle organised criminality and seize the proceeds of crime,” the Minister said.

“Organised crime groups show no regard for the harm they are causing to individuals and communities, they are only interested in lining their own pockets. As the results of OCTF partner agencies' joint operations show - the harm caused to individuals and communities by these criminals will not be tolerated.”

The 94-page report outlines partners' efforts to thwart drugs, counterfeit goods, offensive weapons and cyber crime across Northern Ireland.

During 2023/24:

• 61 organised crime groups operating in Northern Ireland were being investigated by PSNI
• 496 potential victims of modern slavery and human trafficking were referred to the National Referral Mechanism – a UK framework to identify and support victims
• 222 arrests by PSNI related to organised crime groups
• 8,472 drug seizures were made by PSNI
• 187 restraint orders, cash seizures, lifted assets and account freezing orders were made
• Cocaine is the most seized Class A drug in Northern Ireland – accounting for 94% of all incidents involving Class A drugs.

Minister Long praised the OCTF partners' collective efforts to identify emerging issues and said: “It is assessed that 75% of organised crime groups are involved in the supply of drugs, so police alone seizing drugs with an estimated street value of £21m with Border Force and National Crime Agency involved in further seizures, is a significant blow to these groups.

“The excellent work and persistence in pursuing criminals who set out to exploit, threaten and spread misery across communities should not be underestimated but everybody's help is needed to combat organised crime.”

Notes to editors:

1. The full report is available on the Department of Justice website (https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/publications/octf-annual-report-and-threat-assessment-23-24)
2. The OCTF is a voluntary, multi-agency partnership which was established in Northern Ireland in 2000. The co-ordination of the OCTF is supported by Department of Justice. A full list of partner organisations is available at Annex A in the report.