DRUGS with a street value of more than £100,000 have been taken off the streets of Coventry and £26,000 cash gained from crime has been seized after a specialist unit targeting gangs in the city was bolstered by an extra seven officers
The expanded team has already had an impact, notching up a flurry of arrests and weapons seizures, as well as the crack, cocaine and amphetamine.
Officers have arrested 26 people already – many affiliated with city gangs – and guns, knives, drugs and 26 vehicles have also been seized.
Insp Steve Malone, who heads up the team, said: “We’re talking about a high level of intrusion and disruption into Coventry’s drugs gangs, the kind of which we’ve not seen for some time.”
A total of 12 raids have been carried out, officers are carrying out stop and searches and a lot of intelligence surrounding people linked to organised crime has been gathered.
“The work is starting to make a big impact…we know drug dealers are feeling the pressure.
“And we’re working with neighbouring forces, plus British Transport Police, to tackle County Lines drugs supply across the wider region.
“This type of activity will be continuing for several months and I would urge people to contact us with information – to report their concerns or suspicions – so we can take action ad make our communities safer.”
The cash was confiscated by police under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) and the weapons haul taken from crime suspects includes two shotguns, a handgun, and 28 knives including combat knives, machetes and Samurai swords.
The unit is also using tactics to cut off drugs ‘hotlines’ used by criminals running cocaine and heroin supply chains.
They have helped secure five Drug Dealing Telephonic Restriction Orders from the courts in recent weeks which forces network service providers to shut down the number.
Insp Malone added: “We’re also using other digital tactics that effectively disable phone lines used by criminals to coordinate their drug dealing, advertise to customers and take orders.
“Drugs underpin a lots of the violence we’ve seen in Coventry so by striking at the heart of these drug networks it helps us protect the public.”
Officers say information from the public is crucial in their fight against drug dealing and associated crime.
The police has urged anyone with suspicions of drug-dealing in their area to contact officers via live chat at west-midlands.police.uk or by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
