KNOCK, KNOCK
POLICE have raided 14 homes across Stoke-on-Trent in an operation to target suspected drug dealers.
A total of 12 people, eight men and four women, were arrested as officers executed search warrants as part of Staffordshire Police's Operation Nemesis.
The action began shortly after 7.30am yesterday, when teams of officers began to batter down the doors of properties they believed to be linked to the supply of drugs.
The operation continued throughout the morning, with 14 homes targeted by 1pm.
The search warrants, all granted under the Misuse of Drugs Act, were carried out with the aim of recovering evidence against people accused of dealing Class A drugs.
At one address, a flat in Waterloo Road, Cobridge, six people were arrested and police seized what they believe to be crack cocaine with an estimated street value of £8,000. Officers also removed £2,000 in cash from the address.
Other homes targeted were in Chaplin Road and Castleton Road in Normacot, May Place in Longton, Witchford Crescent in Blurton, Sundorne Place in Bentilee, Brocklehurst Way and Stanway Avenue in Sneyd Green, Tintern Street in Hanley, Federation Road in Burslem, and Spratslade Drive in Dresden.
The suspects arrested were taken to the Northern Area Custody Facility in Etruria. A 37-year-old man from Bentilee was charged with drugs offences and was due to appear before magistrates this morning.
Detectives were last night continuing to question the remaining suspects.
Superintendent Dave Mellor, pictured left, from Stoke-on-Trent Division, said: "Many of the searches carried out were the result of calls from members of the public to Crimestoppers to report suspicious behaviour at the addresses."
Residents in Cobridge welcomed yesterday's action.
Steve Pritchard, chairman of Portland and Cobridge Residents' Association said: "The fact that residents can see the police acting on their concerns is reassuring."
Cobridge resident Bernard Wragg said: "It's good to see the police doing something about it."
Nemesis lives up to its name: Page 4
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by stephen, meir
Saturday, February 27 2010, 12:25PM
“Before christmas the police sent round a leaflet in meir basically what it said was hooray weve just got rid of a dealer from round the corner but what it should of said is its taken three years to close a drug den down but and its a humungous but they have moved a few doors down well the next street actually but you know what i mean but what really got me was the people that first reported them were hounded out of their own houses so i can understand now why people dont report them which is the lesser of to evils report and you get your window smashed /abused physically /mentally perhaps get burgled just for good measure or do you leave them to get on with it and have strangers lurking round all day and night perhaps they use the alley behind you as a place to have a fix leave needles for all to see PS you will get all of these if you report them or not as it takes years just to move them to the next street any way so there is no answer you can not win either way”
by Andy, Sandbach
Monday, December 21 2009, 5:03PM
“Cllr Webb. I have just viewed you "Liberatian Party" website.
It made amusing reading. OF interest, there are only 1660 online members!!!!! What huge support you have nationwide eh?!”
by Geoff, Ex Cop
Monday, December 21 2009, 4:32PM
“Save it Webb, you as much use as an ashtray on a motor bike.
Merry Christmas”
by Gavin Webb, Councillor, Staffordshire
Saturday, December 19 2009, 7:38PM
“Will try for a third time. For an organisation who also thinks the drugs war isn't working, and who suggest a more sensible, sustainable route down which to travel, Google 'Transform Drugs Policy' Foundation and visit their website.”
by Johntoe, Stokie up north
Friday, December 18 2009, 11:23PM
“ooh! assumptions now? what a surprise,
HARK!! what was that? nothing just the muffled ramblings of a tightly closed mind,
So whats the answer?
I dunno,
so....... we just keep on spending millions like we have been doing for years?.......
yeah,
but,....but, it doesnt WORK, yeah I know, BUT we DO get lots of GREAT publicity every time we bust some low level dealers, and that makes all those nice tax paying folk THINK that we have the upper hand in the "war" on drugs,......
the war on drugs? didnt we lose that in 1979? shhhhhhhhhh THEY dont know that,”