No let up in war against suspected drug dealers

POLICE issued their toughest warning to date that the war against suspected drug dealers in Wisbech is not going to let up.

Just days after Operation Keymer drew to a close in the county - which resulted in the seizure of around £2.7 million of cannabis - I was invited to join police as they raided two homes in Norwich Road. Occupiers in both homes were suspected of being involved in drug operations.

The key to the success of the raid, as was explained in a briefing, was the local intelligence provided through community policing. Officers on the beat are the eyes and ears of law enforcement and it's their information, often gleaned over many months, which form the background to a decision to spearhead a raid.

Although many raids often take part as dawn is breaking, on this occasion police picked a Thursday lunchtime, allowing passers-by to observe at first hand the initiatives to combat drugs in their own neighbourhood.

Using a search warrant issued earlier by the courts under the Misuse of Drugs Act, some 12 officers stormed both homes, tearing through the front doors, and securing all entrances and exits as rapidly as possible.

The raid was led by PC Tony Harlow who said: "The police act on community intelligence to ensure the police are taking positive action against drug dealing.

"Historically these have been done early in the morning but the police will use all tactics to achieve the objectives."

PC Harlow hopes the message of the police campaign, which has been dubbed a Door-a-Day-initiative, will clear the drugs menace from Fenland streets.

Following the raid:

# Carl Blunden, of Norwich Road, has been charged with supplying cocaine and offering to supply cocaine. He appeared at Peterborough Magistrates' Court on Friday.

# A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs with intent to supply. He has been bailed to return to police on December 14.