Cops step up war on drugs; POLICE: Series of dawn raids on Birmingham addresses.Byline: Mark Cowan Cow´an n. 1. One who works as a mason without having served a regular apprenticeship. POLICE today stepped up their war on drugs with a series of dawn raids in Birmingham targeting those suspected of dealing on the streets. Officers mounted four simultaneous dawn raids in Lozells - two of them on neighbouring propers ties - as part of an investigation into the supply of Class A drugs, such as heroin heroin (hĕ`rəwən), opiate drug synthesized from morphine (see narcotic). Originally produced in 1874, it was thought to be not only nonaddictive but useful as a cure for respiratory illness and morphine addiction, and capable of relieving . The raids were the culmination of a month-long investigation, headed by PC Simon Brindley. Sgt John Scott There are many people who have been called John Scott: Politicians
Officers from Bridge Street West station raided addresses in Crompton Road at 7am. Sgt Scott said: "We have executed four warrants today as part of our continuing efforts towards detecting offenders concerned in the illegal supply of Class A drugs." More than 30 officers were involved in today's operation, an intelligence-led blitz blitz n. 1. a. A blitzkrieg. b. A heavy aerial bombardment. 2. An intense campaign: a media blitz focused on young voters. 3. into street level drug dealing. It was the latest in a series of operations set up to drive a wedge into the illegal drugs market. In May, six houses in the area were raided. Sgt Scott added: "The purpose of the operation is to reassure re·as·sure tr.v. re·as·sured, re·as·sur·ing, re·as·sures 1. To restore confidence to. 2. To assure again. 3. To reinsure. the community that we will act on information they give us concerning the supply of Class A drugs. "It is part of an ongoing process. I am very pleased with the way the operation has gone." Sgt Scott said a ten per cent reduction in crime in the area - equivalent to 900 fewer victims - as of May this year had given officers more time to focus on the issues that most impacted on the community and added further raids would follow. Today's operation involved officers from the Birchfield and Lozells neighbourhood teams and proba-tionarofficers. The operation came after a successful anti-drugs campaign across the area in 2007 led to the arrest of 92 people in Lozells and Aston. More than 150 years' worth of jail sentences were handed out to dealers following the year-long operation. To watch a video of today's raid, visit www.birminghammail.net NEW DRUGS PLAN: PAGE 4 CAPTION(S): Arriving in force: Police officers carrying out the raids in Lozells today. |
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