Drug arrests in Southwark and Lambeth net 24 people
A total of 24 people have been arrested during a two-phase arrest operation targeting people suspected of being involved in drug dealing.
Officers from Specialist Crime executed warrants at a total of 25 addresses in Lambeth and Southwark during early-morning raids on Tuesday, 20 August and Thursday, 22 August.
Over the two days, 23 men and one woman aged between 19 and 41 were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences.
A quantity of class A and B drugs, including 600 wraps of what officers believe to be cocaine and heroin, and over £10,000 cash was discovered at the addresses by officers and seized.
Nine of those who were arrested have since been charged with drug-related offences.
Detective Inspector Steve Crockett from Specialist Crime South, who led today’s operation, said: “Drug supply and the violence that it often causes is rightly a huge concern for communities, and tackling crime and making the streets safer for law-abiding people is a priority across the Met.
“Over just two days, we have visited more than two dozen addresses, taken a number of suspects into custody and seized a large amount of drugs which was destined to be sold on London’s streets to vulnerable people, to generate criminal profits.
“We regularly carry out operations like the one we have run today to make communities safer, and to send a message to people involved in serious criminality that police will continue to pursue and use the full force of the law against them.
“Information from the public remains our most valuable asset and source of intelligence, and we would strongly urge anyone who is aware of crime being committed in their neighbourhoods to call police right away. We have the resources and the know-how to effectively act on that information, and bring criminals to justice.”
Throughout the summer, officers from across the Met – attached to the Basic Command Units (BCUs) which police local boroughs, as well as specialist units tackling gang violence and organised criminality – have been running proactive operations aimed at tackling and disrupting serious crime and the violence is often leads to.
On Wednesday, 21 August, the final arrest phase of Operation Perseus was completed in south east London. Over six weeks, more than 80 people were arrested. The majority of those have been charged with multiple drug-related offences and appeared in court.
* Communities have a vital role to play in tackling drug dealing and linked criminality, and community intelligence can be used to great effect to not only detect, but prevent crime. Please help us to keep London safe.
If you aren’t comfortable speaking directly to the police, please contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. They do not ask your name or trace your call. You can also contact Crimestoppers online via https://crimestoppers-uk.org/
Any young people who have information about violence or knife crime, can visit www.fearless.org where they can pass on information anonymously – your IP address will not be traced. Fearless is part of the Crimestoppers charity, and is also independent of the police.
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Well done to all officers involved, and also thanking people who may see suspicious behaviour destroying their neighbourhood and report it.