13 arrested in Gloucester drugs swoop

An operation aimed at tackling drug dealing in Gloucester City Centre has led to 13 arrests, police confirmed today.

Those arrested during Operation Osprey included six women and seven men, all aged between 19 and 49. They all come from Gloucester, except one 39-year-old woman, who comes from Chepstow.

All have been charged with offences of supplying Class A drugs, being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs or possession with intent to supply.

Eight have already appeared in court and have been remanded in custody. Of the remaining five, four were expected to appear in court this morning and one has been bailed to appear at court on a later date.

The operation, codenamed Osprey, centred around drug dealing in the city bus station and Gloucester Park, and began with the gathering of intelligence over the course of several weeks. The operation culminated with two days of arrests and search warrants on Monday and Tuesday.

Detective Inspector Neil Gavin, who oversaw the operation, said: "The problems surrounding crime in Gloucester bus station and the park have been well documented and it had certainly come to our attention that these areas were being used as venues for dealing drugs.

"Our response was to set up Operation Osprey to ensure that those people who were engaging in such activity realised it was unacceptable and would not be tolerated.

"We consider the operation so far to have been a great success, and I am sure we have had a considerable impact upon the drug trade in the city, but it does not end here," he added.

Det Insp Gavin said that further arrests were expected.

(gmcg)