The Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) is a republican paramilitary group which was believed to be responsible for about 120 killings during the Troubles.
Mr McDowell, who is the TUV’s deputy leader, said: “The INLA have been called out by the media in the past for having a multi-million pound drug empire in west Belfast.
“And now they’re targeting people who are vulnerable with drugs in the area,” he said.
The TUV councillor acknowledged that the Welcome Organisation was at the centre of a “perfect storm” because of addiction, homelessness and other social problems in Belfast.
He said that paramilitary violence and threats must be condemned.
But he added: “It’s a shame then that paramilitary action is bringing forward a conversation which perhaps should have happened a long time ago.”
