Record drugs bust: man charged

1:02pm Tuesday 10th April 2001

A solarium manager appeared in court this morning to face drug possession charges following Croydon's biggest ever drugs bust.

David John Curtis, 34, a self-employed solarium manager, of Wydeville Manor Road, Grove Park, Bromley, has been charged with possession and possession with intent to supply a class B drug.

He appeared at Croydon Magistrates this morning. A 28 year-old Grove Park woman was also arrested but released on police bail.

A dawn raid on a solarium in Selsdon Road yesterday netted 17 boxes of cannabis resin with a street value of £1 million.

Forensic tests are to be carried out on the 350 to 400 kilos of resin found in bricks stored in one room.

The operation was carried out by the Croydon Drugs Task Force led by Detective Inspector Phil Kaye who confirmed that this seizure was the biggest in the borough's history.

It was launched as part of a three-year Metropolitan Police initiative to tackle drug trafficking and dealing called Operation Crackdown.

Det Insp Kaye said: “The task force operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to tackle drug related offences in the borough, culminating in the seizure this morning.

“This shows how seriously we take the offence and that we are trying to make sure we don't have drugs bought, sold or used in the borough.

“Our aim is to reduce the amount of drugs available on the street to try and reduce the number of associated crimes like burglary, robbery and motor vehicle offences.”

Anyone with information should call the Croydon Borough Drugs Task Force on 020 8649 0132 .

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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