Eleven Arrested In Weston-Super-Mare Drug Raids

Eleven people have been arrested in a series of raids carried out across Weston-super-Mare.

Around 50 officers were involved in the operation, including neighbourhood officers, specialist search teams, drug dogs and their handlers, Special Constables, and Crime Scene Investigators.

Six addresses were searched, with officers uncovering heroin, crack cocaine, cannabis, drug paraphernalia and a knife from a property in Ashcombe Road.

A 19-year-old man from London was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply controlled drugs and a 51-year-old woman from Weston was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs. They remain in police custody.

Suspected heroin, crack cocaine, a knife and drug paraphernalia were also seized from an address in Hambledon Road. A 40-year-old man from Weston was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs while two men from Wolverhampton aged 18 and 20 were both arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply controlled drugs. All three remain in police custody.

Earlier this week officers arrested six people from an address in Alma Street in Weston-super-Mare. The property was searched at about 11.15pm on Wednesday 5 August and suspected crack cocaine and cannabis were seized from the property.

Three men aged 56, 19 and 20, two 16-year-old boys and a 17-year-old girl, all from Weston, were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply controlled drugs. They were later given police bail pending further enquiries including forensic tests of the substances.

Somerset Policing Area Superintendent Mike Prior said: "This ongoing operation follows weeks of investigations and intelligence gathering by local officers. We're very grateful to the members of the community who have been reporting their concerns about drug activity in the town."

He went on: "I hope this week's activity will assure local people that we do take their concerns seriously and will take action on the information they give us, although we may need time to gather the evidence we need to apply to the courts for search warrants. We know residents do not want drugs dealt from their neighbourhoods and will continue to target our patrols based on the information we're given."

Supt Prior added: "We experience similar issues in other towns in Avon and Somerset and we will not tolerate drug dealing in any of its forms. I hope the community will continue to stand with us and send a strong message to dealers that they’re not welcome here."

(MH/LM)