Arrests made & drugs and cash seized in Basingstoke anti-drug op
Hampshire Police say they arrested five people in a recent week of action against county lines dealing
Five people have been arrested and thousands of pounds in cash seized, during a planned operation against drugs gangs in Basingstoke.
Hampshire Police say they took part in a special week of action against county lines dealing earlier this month, which is when drugs are brought from big cities into smaller towns, often across counties.
From Monday 3 October to Sunday 9 October £3,400 in cash was seized, while three men, one woman and one boy were all detained.
Officers say they also recorded the following achievements:
- Forty wraps of crack cocaine, 61 wraps of heroin, 14.95g of cocaine and 115.95g of cannabis all seized
- One vulnerable man and one vulnerable woman both safeguarded
- Man from London charged with two counts of possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class A and possession of an offensive weapon in a private place
That man has been named as 23-year-old Shane Burton from Auburn Close in the capital.
He was arrested at an address in Attwood Close in Basingstoke on Tuesday 4 October.
Acting Police Sergeant James Hope, from the Basingstoke High Harm Team, said: “Drugs, especially class A drugs, cause massive harm to our community.
“As well as the damage it can cause to the life of the person taking them, the production and supply of drugs brings with it organised crime, serious violence, possession of firearms and exploitation of vulnerable adults and children.
“I would also urge anyone with information about drug dealing in their neighbourhood to report it to us so we can carry out operations like and arrest offenders.
“We hope this operation sends a strong message to drug dealers and those involved in drug deal networks, that offences of this kind will not be tolerated in Hampshire.”
For more information on spotting the signs of exploitation please visit The Children Society’s website.
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