Three people were arrested after police stopped a car in Barrow while carrying out a specialist police tactic involving multiple forces.
Officers from Ministry of Defence Police, British Transport Police, Civil Nuclear Constabulary, Royal Navy Police and the Home Office Border Force saw the vehicle on Park Road.
When it failed to stop, officers quickly detained the car.
The Ministry of Defence Police said: “Searches revealed suspected class A drugs, cannabis, and cash.”
A 43-year-old man, a 23-year-old woman, and a 20-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a class A controlled substance.
The 43-year-old man also faces charges of failing to appear at magistrates’ court and failing to stop for police.
Ministry of Defence officers, along with Cumbria police and the Civil Nuclear Constabulary then searched three properties in Millom.
The Ministry of Defence Police added: “Officers located further evidence including scales, bags, white powder believed to be cocaine, tablets suspected to be ecstasy, and cannabis. Enquiries are ongoing.
“The vehicle was suspected to be involved in county lines activity and organised crime groups supplying drugs into the Barrow area.”
The officers were deployed as part of Project Servator, a specialist policing tactic designed to disrupt criminal activity through unpredictable, highly visible deployments.
It relies on officers who are specially trained to spot tell-tale signs that someone may be carrying out hostile reconnaissance – information gathering that may help them plan or prepare to commit a crime and works by creating a network of vigilance involving police, partner agencies, and the public.
PS Calladine, Barrow Project Servator Sergeant said: “Project Servator is about being unpredictable and visible. When we work together with our partners and the public, we create an environment where criminals simply cannot operate safely.
“This deployment demonstrates how we’ve disrupted what we believe to be organised criminal activity that posed a risk not just to the Defence community, but to the wider Barrow area.
“This is why building that network of vigilance is so important. The public are our eyes and ears, and we encourage anyone who sees something suspicious to report it. Together, we can keep our communities and defence sites safe.”
- The Ministry of Defence Police said while returning from Millom, the team also provided the initial response to a two-vehicle collision, closing the road and liaising with Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service and North West Ambulance Service until Cumbria police arrived. It said no one was injured in the incident.
