[P]olice have made arrests as part of a proactive operation to tackle drug supply in south Cumbria.
Officers from departments across the Constabulary executed searches on seven addresses – three in Kendal and four in the Barrow area – as part of the two-day operation.
The crackdown form parts of Operation Discidium, a forcewide operation set up to disrupt serious and organised crime in the county.
Yesterday (Tuesday), one woman was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs (heroin) following a search at an address on Thrum Street, Barrow, where officers seized around 50 street deals. She has since been released under investigation.
A man was also arrested in Kendal on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class C drugs, after a property search in Garth Bank. He has been released under investigation.
Class A drugs were also seized from a property in Collin Close, Kendal, yesterday and enquiries continue.
This morning the operation continued where properties were searched in both towns. In a property searched on Ruskin Avenue in Dalton, a quantity of cannabis was seized.
The Kendal search proved negative.
Inspector Paul Latham said: “This was a successful operation that saw officers from across the Force working together in the bid to tackle drugs offences.
“While tackling crime is our core day-to-day business, these proactive operations allow staff to be designated to the operation in a joined up, targeted approach.
“The arrests and seizures – and even where searches are negative – send a strong message to criminals dealing on our streets. We will continue to carry out these operations alongside our everyday action to ensure the communities of Cumbria remain safe.
“We will also continue to work with partners on the prevention and rehabilitation side of drug abuse, to make sure that those we come into contact with are offered support, and signposted to agencies that can help them.
“We encourage anyone with information about the supply of drugs to contact police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall said: “Only today I have been with the National Crime Agency, hearing how damaging the illegal drugs trade is to our communities and vulnerable people, especially our young people.
“Criminals who supply drugs are a scourge and I strongly support proactive operations such as this to target dealers in a joined up, targeted manner to protect our communities and take drugs off our streets. We must all work together to stamp this out in our county.”
