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Scientologists may not have a church in Belfast, but the secretive and controversial religion appears to be operational in the city.

The Church of Scientology was formed by L Ron Hubbard in 1953, but has been made famous by celebrities such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

Its closest branch to Belfast is in Dublin.

But the church has said it is behind drugs leaflets that have been dropped through letter boxes in homes across counties Antrim and Down in recent months.

News of the leaflets first appeared on social media, with people in Belfast and further afield saying they got 'The Truth about Marijuana' and 'The Truth about drugs' booklets through the door.

Many questioned whether they were linked to Scientology.

The leaflets claimed to be from an organisation called 'drugfreeworld.org' and aim to educate readers about "Blow, flake, sniff, Charlie, snow" and Ecstasy, LSD, speed, cocaine and marijuana".

(Image: Submitted)

A spokesman from the Church of Scientology said they are behind them.

He added: "The Truth about Marijuana is indeed a drug awareness campaign proudly sponsored by The Church of Scientology, as you can see on the Drug Free World website page .

"The booklets themselves, as with 13 similar booklets, are there to help educate people about the dangers of drugs, in this case marijuana.

"As their aim and function is to educate about the dangers of drugs, they do not mention or promote the Church.

"The Drug Free World programme is, as the name suggests, international.

"In the UK and Ireland, the church has sponsored the materials for many decades and they have been enormously successful. The Church is doing everything it can to create a drug-free society."

Last year the Irish News revealed how the church was recruiting Irish language translators because of its growth in Ireland.

It says on the churches website that Dublin held a special place in its founders heart as he lived and worked there in 1956.

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