East: Drugs Raids Two Charged
Officers found what they say is over 500 kilos of cannabis, and cash estimated at over £30,000.
Following raids held across Norfolk and Suffolk yesterday (6 December 2011) two people have been charged.
A total of 15 warrants were carried out on locations across the two counties.
Properties in Norwich, Hethersett, Foxley and, Shropham in Norfolk were targeted and locations in Erwarton, Woodbridge, Rushmere St Andrew, Ipswich, Harkstead, Elmswell and Holton St Mary in Suffolk.
Officers from ERSOU have recovered a substantial amount of cashestimated in excess of £30,000 and cannabis estimated in excess of 500 kilos following the warrants in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.
The people charged are Terrence Sherman aged 61 from Creffield Road, Colchester and Ann Sherman aged 59 from Creffield Road, Colchester, who have each been charged with five offences relating to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
They will appear at Ipswich Magistrates Court on Wednesday 21 December 2011.
A 31 year old woman from Norwich has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.
A further eight people remain in police custody for further questioning.
Six people are being held in relation to raids held in Norfolk and Suffolk and two people in relation to raids held in Essex.
The initiative was led by ERSOU (Eastern Regional Special Operations Unit) - a regional crime squad to tackle serious and organised crime across six force areas became operational in July 2010.
ERSOU was formed to increase and improve operational capacity and capability in dealing with cross-border criminals and is resourced by Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk forces. ERSOU is committed to serving residents across the region and carries out proactive operations to tackle cross-border organised crime.
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Drugs Raids in Norfolk and Suffolk
Seven people have been arrested after drugs raids across Norfolk and Suffolk.
The crackdown on drugs in communities and the disruption of illegal drugs activity across Norfolk and Suffolk has continued today. (6 December 2011)
Properties in Norwich, Hethersett, Foxley and, Shropham in Norfolk were targeted as police continue their efforts to tackle the supply of drugs across the region.
Properties in Erwarton, Woodbridge, Rushmere St Andrew, Ipswich, Harkstead, Elmswell and Holton St Mary were also targeted in Suffolk.
A team of officers from the Eastern Regional Special Operations Unit(ERSOU)* along with officers from specialist search teams and dog unitshave been involved in the execution of 15 warrants in the two counties.
Following the raids, officers from the local Neighbourhood Policing Teams have been carrying out patrols in the areas where the warrants were executed. They will be providing reassurance to residents and providing information and support.
As a result of today's activities, seven people, six men one woman in the two counties have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs and money laundering.
T/Detective Superintendent Mark Lay, Deputy Head of the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit, who is leading the investigation, said: "Today is the culmination of months of painstaking work undertaken by ERSOU officers throughout the region and beyond.
"It should send a message that any persons engaged in the unlawful supply of drugs within the region can expect the full force of ERSOU and its partners to bring them to justice.
"We are sending a clear message to the residents that dealing in drugs will not be tolerated and we will continue to tackle it robustly."
T/Det.Supt Lay added: "A major part of the success of today's operations has been the intelligence provided by members of the public. It is their information and their positive action that has enabled us to carry out these raids with a successful outcome. I would reiterate the message that the more the public tells us, the more we can do to help tackle drugs and track down the people involved.
"The raids today will have seriously inconvenienced the drug dealing networks, but there is still more to be done – and I can assure those individuals that persist in this type of illegal activity, they will be tracked down, arrested and their assets seized."
ERSOU (Eastern Regional Special Operations Unit) is a regional crime squad to tackle serious and organised crime across six force areas became operational in July 2010.
ERSOU was formed to increase and improve operational capacity and capability in dealing with cross-border criminals and is resourced by Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk forces. ERSOU is committed to serving residents across the region and carries out proactive operations to tackle cross-border organised crime.
Anyone who suspects there is drug activity in their community should contact police on 1010 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111