Drugs seized in Southampton raid as part of Hampshire police operation

Police across Hampshire have been cracking down on drugs supply in the county as part of a national campaign.

Officers executed a warrant at an address in Woolston and seized what is suspected to be cocaine.

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This made up part of the force’s week-long crackdown, in which it seized more than £78,000 of Class A drugs overall.

The county constabulary has also focused on safeguarding children involved in the network.

In the last five months alone, 39 minors have been identified as being concerned in Hampshire drugs supply.

Patrolling during the crackdown

Chief Inspector Ricky Dhanda said: “Our involvement with this national week of action enables us to work cross borders with other forces and our South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU) to ensure we are continually making our towns and cities a hostile environment for drug dealing, by disrupting and dismantling these networks.

"We’ve had a successful week of intensification with a significant amount of drugs taken off our streets and those involved arrested and charged.

“It’s important to add that a lot of educational work is done by police and partners continually throughout the year. The week provides a focus on the high harm these drug gangs pose to our communities and to young and vulnerable people in our society who they often exploit and bring misery too."

“We are actively working to disrupt County Lines drug dealing constantly and our aim is to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable people, while making sure that Hampshire remains a safe place to work and live.”

Throughout the intensification week, officers in Southampton conducted patrols in known drug dealing hotspots to disrupt supply.

The activity was made up of a mixture of high visibility and plain clothes patrols, as well as marked and unmarked vehicle patrols.

Officers in Gosport conducted a warrant at a flat in Warders Court, Chilworth Grove.

On Wednesday March 9, a 55-year-old man at the address was dealt with by means of community resolution for possession of cannabis.

Patrolling during the crackdown

Overall Hampshire Constabulary executed 12 warrants, arrested 30 men and one woman, seized 43 mobile phones, £13,575 in cash, £47,120 of crack cocaine, £1,190 of heroin and £24,800 powder cocaine.

Officers carried out 48 education visits, visited 134 ‘cuckooed’ addresses, spoke with five landlords, and safeguarded 34 vulnerable individuals, including four children.

• Mohammed Ali Artan, 36, of Centenary Plaza, was charged with possession with intent to supply a controlled Class A drug and remanded to appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court in relation to the Woolston raid. He was further remanded to appear at the city’s Crown Court on April 15.

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