A leading republican deported from the US on suspicion of travelling on a false passport has been charged by police in Belfast, it emerged tonight.
The former IRA prisoner was one of two men ordered to leave San Francisco after a major transatlantic security operation involving the FBI.
With another man still being held by the authorities in America, hardline Ulster Unionists have urged police chiefs to reveal if the arrests were linked to a suspected gun smuggling plot by the Provisional IRA.
"We know that there is ongoing IRA activity in relation to the importation of illegal arms from the US," Mr Jeffrey Donaldson claimed. "We need to know whether this was in connection with gun running."
Following the deportations detectives seized computers and tapes during searches of a number of homes in the Andersonstown district of west Belfast.
Four machines and disks were lifted as officers swooped under anti-terrorist legislation.
Sinn Fein has claimed the operation was mounted in a bid to put pressure on republicans as British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair prepares a blueprint deal which he hopes will rescue the Northern Ireland peace process.
One of those deported was jailed during the 1970s for an attack on a police LandRover.
He was stopped at San Franciso airport nearly two weeks ago where he had allegedly been travelling on false papers.
Two brothers from a prominent Belfast republican family were also arrested.
One of them was deported after being accused of possessing false documents which the other was tonight still being held by US immigration authorities.
PA