Sinn Féin’s Mr Martin McGuinness has said attempts to link his party with drug dealing is "cheap political point-scoring". Mr McGuinness said he would leave the party if allegations that member’s were involved in the drugs trade proved correct.
He made his pledge to the Northern Ireland Assembly after he was challenged by the DUP's Mr Sammy Wilson to explain the detention of three republicans in Columbia and their links with FARC rebels. The group has been suspected of cocaine trafficking. He also denied claims that the three were Sinn Féin's representatives in Cuba.
"The attempt to link Sinn Féin to any drugs organisation in South America has to be seen as what it is - cheap political point-scoring", Mr McGuinness said.
"I have to say that if there were any people within my party associated with anyone either in Ireland or in the international community who were involved in the drugs trade, I would not be a member of Sinn Féin."
"No charges have been laid against anyone and people have not been found to be guilty of anything," he added.
Mr Wilson had called on Sinn Féin to disassociate itself from the three and tell the assembly that it had nothing to "do with the drug dealing which is perpetuated on behalf of that terrorist organisation?"
PA