More than 30 arrests in dawn raids
MORE than 30 people were arrested in the Colchester area during a series of early morning raids designed to send shock waves to drug dealers. Everyone brought in by the police was arrested on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs, with the youngest person just 14 years old.
MORE than 30 people were arrested in the Colchester area during a series of early morning raids designed to send shock waves to drug dealers.
Everyone brought in by the police was arrested on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs, with the youngest person just 14 years old.
At 6am yesterday the arrest phase of the operation began and doors were smashed open as 17 warrants were executed over the course of the morning at a series of addresses across the town.
More than 120 officers from the force were brought in for this stage of Operation Petite , which needed three months of planning.
Both uniformed officers and detectives carried out the raids, with support from dog handlers, specialist entry teams and search officers.
A quantity of what police believe were class-A drugs were recovered, which will now be sent for analysis.
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Along with the suspected drugs, two imitation firearms, other weapons, stolen property and cash were also found.
Divisional commander Chief Superintendent Dave Hudson said: “Today is the culmination of three months of intense evidence and intelligence gathering against a network of Class A drug dealers operating in the Colchester area.
“The early results are extremely positive with my officers executing 17 warrants resulting in over 30 arrests.
“I would point out that Colchester is one of the safest towns in the country and operations like this will contribute towards making it even safer.”
He also said it was an ongoing operation and was “by no means over” with enquiries continuing and further arrests anticipated.
The homes raided were at Hawthorn Avenue, Sycamore Road, Mersea Road, Fairhead Road South, Magdalen Street, Queen Street, Compton Road and an address in West Bergholt.
The prisoners, both men and women aged between 14 and 42, were being questioned yesterday.
james.hore@eadt.co.uk
