A huge drugs consignment seized at the British port of Dover today was to be split up among several dealers in Northern Ireland, police believe.
Up to 450,000 ecstasy tablets with a £4.5 million street value were found when customs officers stopped a lorry coming off a ferry from Calais.
It had been under surveillance across Europe after a tip off by police in Belfast.
The driver, who comes from Co Down, was taken away for questioning.
It was the biggest shipment of drugs destined for Northern Ireland to be recovered. In February 300,000 tablets worth £3 million were found at Belfast docks.
Today's find was made as the Northern Ireland security minister Ms Jane Kennedy had talks with anti-Mafia police officers in Italy as part of the British government's plans to crack down on crime in Northern Ireland.
She is working with the government's organised crime task force which is targeting several gangs, many of them with republican and loyalist paramilitary links.
Detective Superintendent George McCauley said be believed a number of dealers were waiting for the latest consignment.
He said: "We are not attributing this to any group. The bigger the amount, the cheaper it is and it's likely several dealers were involved.
"We're satisfied a major network has been disrupted."
- More than 100,000 smuggled cigarettes from Lanzarote were abandoned at City of Derry airport when customs officers mounted an operation. Nearly half were found in baggage reclaim and the toilets. Up to eight passengers were involved, according to staff.
- PA