NEWS EXTRA: We join Wiltshire Police for major drugs raid
The Force has warned that officers will continue "knocking on the door" of anyone supplying illegal substances
Last updated 3rd Mar 2021
Greatest Hits has been on the frontline with police in Wiltshire, as officers crackdown on what they call "serious and organised" drug crime.
Several people were arrested this week, after the Force raided six properties across East Swindon.
During one of the warrants, our reporter Matt Hutchinson captured a front door being mangled:
'The work we're doing is correct and proper'
A female resident at the address in this video was later heard crying in anguish.
Sergeant James Rodriguez, who led the operation, acknowledged that the intelligence for executing warrants must be sufficient to justify their implications.
"An awful lot of planning goes into it. We have to satisfy a court that we have suitable information and intelligence to conduct the warrant in the first place," he told Greatest Hits.
"We have to make sure and understand that the intelligence we've got is right, it's valid and it's current information.
"As we've found over the last few days, we've had some successful warrants ... the work that we're doing is correct and proper, I'm pleased to say".
This raid was one of three that were carried out simultaneously on Thursday 25 February, as part of 'Operation Theseus'. An estimated ÂŁ50,000 worth of cannabis, as well as Class A drugs and three motorbikes, were seized during the warrants.
The previous day, three other homes were also raided. Wednesday's operations resulted in the arrest of two local teenage boys, aged 16 and 17, on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs.
Three local men, aged 18, 20 and 22, and one local woman, 22, were then arrested on suspicion of drug dealing on Thursday.
Collectively, the six warrants covered the Eldene, Stratton, Dorcan and Liden areas.
Supt Phil Staynings said: “The last two days is all part of our ongoing proactive activity to disrupt these criminal groups, which ultimately will have a positive impact on our communities.
"Not only do drugs cause misery for so many people, but the wider criminality linked to drug dealing, which often includes violence and intimidation, can have a huge impact on our communities".
'If people are victims, we will do everything we can to protect'
Given the number of young people seen by Sergeant Rodriguez who have become entangled in drug offences, he is now urging anyone vulnerable to exploitation to contact Wiltshire Police:
"We are here to protect you. I would like them to feel empowered to come forward.
"If they feel unable to do so at this moment in time, if they fear for the prosecutions, we have measures that we can take.
"If we identify that people are victims, we will do everything we can to protect those people".
The harsh reality of Operation Theseus
Based on new figures from Wiltshire Police, it appears that drug crime has been rife in Swindon during the pandemic.
Operation Theseus targets the disruption of Class A and B drugs across the town.
Between March 2020 and January 2021, it resulted in:
- 79 arrests or cautions
- 50 ongoing investigations
- 11 guns seized
- ÂŁ25,000 worth of Class A drugs seized
- ÂŁ25,000 worth of cash seized
- ÂŁ2,500 worth of Class B drugs seized
'We will be knocking on your door, if you're involved in drug supplying'
As Operation Theseus continues to wreak havoc for dealers, there is now a stark warning to any potential suspects.
"We will not tolerate drug activity, as we've evidenced over the last couple of days," Sergeant Rodriguez told Greatest Hits.
"We will be knocking on your door, if you are involved in the supply of drugs".