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Pregabalin: Man arrested following £450k drugs seizure

PSNI suspected pregabalin tablets seized in belfastPSNI
The siezure follows searches of four addresses in thenorth and east of the city

A man has been arrested after suspected counterfeit drugs worth an estimated £450,000 were seized in Belfast.

It follows searches of four properties, carried out by the PSNI and UK Border Force, in the north and east of the city on Thursday.

Police said the majority of the seized drugs appear to be counterfeit and are labelled as pregabalin tablets.

A 34-year-old man has been arrested and is currently being interviewed by police.

The PSNI said the 300mg tablets 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," Det Insp Kelly said.

Police have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.