A group calling itself Action Against Drug Dealers (AADD)  has threatened to kill or severely punish drug dealers who don't heed their warnings.

In a statement from the ‘Belfast Leadership’ of the AADD sent to the Andersonstown News this week, the group says its aim is to eradicate the ‘drug epidemic’ that has ‘infested’ communities across the North.

The group claims that ‘activists’ have been targeting and punishing drug dealers in recent weeks and months in several areas in Belfast.

“Over the last number of years these vermin have been poisoning young people and adults alike, openly and without fear of challenge,” said the statement.

“It is clear that some of these well known parasites obviously work as police informers and operate with impunity. Not any more. 

“It is also clear that several of the drug dealers in question secretly use the names of republican organisations to intimidate their victims and pretend to be members of organsations to collect money and carry out their own form of punishment against penniless and fearful drug addicts and their families.

“We call on all republican military organisations to make public statements against this type of behaviour and reassure our communities that the parasites don't operate for, on behalf of, or in conjunction with you.”

The group goes on further to warn drug dealers: “We will do our best to eradicate this poison from the communities that we all come from. 

“If the vermin don't heed the warnings then they will suffer an early grave or severe punishment.”