Drugs Worth £20,000 Seized In Portsmouth
Police in Portsmouth have seized more than £20,000 worth of heroin and crack cocaine in a two-month drive to target drug-related anti-social behaviour
Operation Saracen was run by 4 Operational Command unit (OCU) as part of the force’s Summer ASB Campaign.
It was led by Portsmouth’s Drugs Intelligence team with support from officers from Targeted Patrol, Dog section, CID and Safer Neighbourhoods teams.
Between July and August, in total, the team:
* executed warrants at 19 addresses across Portsmouth
* arrested 17 suspect drug users and/or dealers
* charged 10 people and sent them to court
* seized £20,120 worth of heroin and crack cocaine
* recovered £4,250 in cash
Officers executed their first warrant on July 6 at an address on Allaway Avenue, Cosham. Three people were arrested and heroin and crack cocaine worth £4,000 was seized.
In another investigation, police detained a father and son after officers witnessed a suspected drugs deal at a children’s play park off Northern Parade in Hilsea.
Following a search of a flat in Copnor, police recovered heroin with an estimated street value of £8,700.
Both men, who are from Liverpool, were charged with being concerned in the supply of a class A drug.
Meanwhile, a search warrant executed at a house on Magdala Road, Cosham, led to the arrests of three people and the discovery of £3,500 worth of class A drugs.
As part of that same investigation, and at almost the same time, officers stop-checked a car on the A3 at Horndean, arrested the driver and front-seat passenger and seized £1,500 in cash.
Detective Sergeant Steve Toms said Operation Saracen was a two-pronged attacked:
“We raised search warrants for 19 addresses across the city based on information from the community and conducted pro-active style operations to target suspected drug activity on the streets.
“Operation Saracen has been very successful; it’s led to 17 arrests and more than £20,000 worth of class A drugs being seized.
“Drug use and supply can have a very damaging effect on our communities in terms of the anti-social behaviour and crimes they cause.
“If you’re concerned about drug activity in your neighbourhood, tell us. You can either call Crimestoppers, or speak to us direct via the switchboard or with your local beat officer.
“Tell us your concerns, tell us what you’ve seen and from other information we may have we may be able to do something about it.
“My message to people that are dealing drugs is we will target you, it’s as simple as that, and use robust and proactive measures to enforce the legislation, charge you and send you to court.”
If you’ve got information about drug activity in your area, you can call Hampshire Constabulary in confidence on 101 or the anonymous Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.