Hard-line approach sees more arrests and cash, drugs and weapons seized

• More than 60 people have been arrested and class A drugs worth more than £150,000 have been seized in a series of police raids across Gloucestershire and the West Country
• Weapons, cash and stolen goods were also recovered during the seven day operation
• Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Chris Nelson said, “The principle of co-operation across our five forces enables us to share best practice and helps tackle the problem of anti-social drugs in our communities and show that the South West is no place for drugs.”
• Officers from the region’s five police forces carried out a range of targeted activities and patrols including Gloucester, Cheltenham, Plymouth, Bournemouth, Swindon, Bristol and Bath.

More than 60 arrests were made and drugs worth more than £150,000 were seized in a week-long series of police raids it can now be revealed.

Huge quantities of crack cocaine, cannabis and heroin; weapons including a number of firearms, a Samurai sword, machete and knives, were also recovered in the latest phase of Operation Vanquish, an initiative involving the South West’s five police forces. 

Figures just released show that across the region, there were:

• 64 arrests
• Over £152,173 worth of drugs
• £198,088 cash
• And 29 weapons recovered
• 28 vulnerable people safeguarded
• As well as a quantity of clothing, motorbikes and high value cars also seized

During the seven days of operations from June 10-16, police teams targeted gangs and addresses of suspected drugs dealers and suppliers; stepped-up patrols of known hotspots and used technology to disrupt so-called county-lines activities. 

Chief Superintendent Roddy Gosden, who co-ordinated the operation in Gloucestershire, said: "Operation Vanquish allowed us to work together with colleagues from across the South West to ensure the region is no place for drugs.

"A number of specialist teams from across the Constabulary took part in our week of action, conducting drugs warrants and taking dealers off the streets and I feel that this shows our commitment to tackling drug dealing.

“Our work doesn’t end here as we will continue our efforts to investigate those arrested, take more drugs off our streets, share intelligence and protect the vulnerable.”

South West regional drugs intensification weeks are a collaboration between the five police forces in the South West region – Dorset, Devon & Cornwall, Avon & Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. The region’s five Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), the British Transport Police, South West Regional Organised Crime Unit and the independent charity Crimestoppers are also combining their resources to tackle drug supply in the region and make the South West a hostile environment for those who deal drugs and engage in anti-social drug taking activity.

Speaking on behalf of the other four PCCs, Chris Nelson, Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire, said: “This is our eighth regional operation against drug dealers, the second one led by Gloucestershire and I know the public want us to take more action against drug dealers and all their associated violence and anti-social behaviour.

“So I was pleased to witness a very successful operation on day one that led to the arrest of seven offenders, the seizure of a significant amount of Class A drugs and weapons, and the confiscation of a dangerous looking XL bully dog.   

“Our officers always go above and beyond to keep communities safe from these vile criminals but we also need the public to report whenever they suspect drug dealing, so we can build up our intelligence picture to allow officers to focus first on where the problem is worst.”    

Nick Evans, Deputy PCC and Chair of Gloucestershire’s Combating Drugs Partnership said: “Our County is no place for drugs, and operations like this are about acting on the vital intelligence that our residents provide and getting drugs off our streets and criminal dealers out of our communities.

“Both raids I’ve joined this week have been a result of this sort of local intelligence and I’ve heard first-hand the relief and gratitude of residents when the drug dealers are led away in handcuffs. Enforcement like this is critical, and I want to see more of it.

“But I also want to encourage those that use drugs to get help to stop using. VIA, the County’s new drug and alcohol treatment service, along with Narcotics Anonymous can help start their journey away from dependence. That way we can reduce the hold these exploitative criminal dealers have on some of the most vulnerable people in the County, and stop them from ruining more lives.”

Anyone with information about illegal drugs activity should report it to their local police service online or via 101. Always call 999 in an emergency.

Alternatively you can pass information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year on 0800 555 111 or you can use their non-traceable online form. They will never ask for a name or contact details and the phone call or online report will never be traced. If the information supplied leads to an arrest and charge, there could be a cash reward of up to £1,000.