Class A drugs and £53k seized by police in crackdown

The region-wide crackdown codenamed Operation Scorpion saw officers combine resources to tackle drug suppliers, particularly those who target businesses and customers in clubs and pubs.

Targeted activities in hotspots around Plymouth, Bournemouth, Swindon, Cheltenham and Bath involved and plain-clothed police patrols carrying out drug tests in licensed venues.

During three weekends between November 18 and December 3, officers arrested 70 suspects – eight charged – while making 649 disruptions, safeguarding 22 people, and seizing £51,853 in cash as well as around 3.5kg of Class B drugs plus 2.2kg of Class A drugs.

In Wiltshire specifically, there were 12 arrests, two charges, one child and adult safeguarded, as well as more than 3kgs of drugs and £8,000 seized.

The team effort saw Avon and Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire police forces working together along with their respective offices of Police and Crime Commissioners, the British Transport Police, South West Regional Organised Crime Unit and CrimeStoppers.

A collage of snapshots from the police's Operation Scorpion (Image: Wiltshire Police)

Devon & Cornwall Police chief constable Jim Colwell represented the five forces.

He said: “Drugs dogs were deployed to assist with searches of venues and property, Roads Policing teams disrupted the movement of drugs and those driving under the influence of drugs and proactive teams carried out drugs warrants, removing drugs which were intended for our local communities.

“Operation Scorpion is here to send a very clear message – the south west is no place for drugs.

“Working together, we will continue to pursue those who seek to commit these crimes here, work with our partners to safeguard and support the vulnerable and provide education about the impacts and risks of drugs.”

During the previous two phases of Operation Scorpion, which took place in March and July, there were over 800 pieces of policing activity, including the seizure of multiple kilograms of drugs alongside over £300,000 cash and a variety of weapons.

Chief Constable Colwell added: “Using information reported to police and CrimeStoppers, forces were able to build up a picture of what illegal activity was happening and use the intelligence to inform how and where we would target our operational activity.

“The information reported to us by the public is without a doubt a key part of this operation and I would urge anyone with information about suspected illegal activity in their community to report it and help us make the South West a hostile environment for drugs.”

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said on behalf of the region’s PCCs: “There’s a perception in our society that ‘party drugs’ like ecstasy and cocaine are normal and can be used without consequence.

“The reality is that young people are losing their lives to these substances with devastating consequences for their families and our communities, and those who buy drugs are supporting child exploitation, misery and violence in the supply network.

“Commissioners across our region wanted a show of policing strength here to demonstrate that we stand by those who say we will not tolerate this harm any longer.

“Help for those who want to get off drugs is available, but those who persist in dealing and taking drugs in our region will discover that the south west is no place for drugs.”

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

To pass on information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or use their non-traceable online form.