More than 100kg of cannabis seized as Wiltshire Police target crime gangs
39 arrests were made and £63k in cash was also seized
A series of proactive operations tackling organised crime gangs in Wiltshire has resulted over 110kg of drugs being seized by police.
111.86kg of cannabis and 1.32kg of cocaine was seized by officers.
As part of Operation Scorpion, 39 people were arrested and £63,195 seized during a successful period.
Detective Superintendent Ben Mant said the perception of cannabis cultivation and smoking it being victimless couldn’t be further from the truth.
He said: “Drug trafficking is a major source of revenue for organised crime gangs, funding other elements of serious and organised crime such as firearms and modern slavery.”
Praise for officers who worked 'tirelessly'
Det Supt Mant said the disruptions and warrants were successful in disrupting a significant amount of criminal activity in Wiltshire.
“The intelligence gathered from the operation also enable us to build up a greater picture of the illegal activity happening across our county and inform where we can target our future operational activity.”
Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said communities are destroyed by drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour.
He also thanked the work of officers who worked “tirelessly” to drive down drug-related crime.
The PCC said: “Both the Chief Constable (of Wiltshire Police) and I are determined the focus on ensuring Wiltshire has a zero-tolerance approach to this type of criminality, alongside the collaborative approach between myself and the other PCCs."
Last week Mr Wilkinson joined the calls for landlords to help the war on drugs across the south-west.
“This will reinforce the message that no matter where you live in the south west, there is no place for drugs.
“As ever, the key to the success of this latest round of disruptions, arrests and seizures is a direct result of the intelligence gathered, and given to us by our communities.”