Crackdown on Class A drugs

4:40pm Tuesday 17th April 2001

Last week's seizure of £1million worth of cannabis in Croydon's largest ever drugs haul was not an isolated sting but the highlight of a concerted police effort in the war against drugs.

The cannabis raid came after a six-week phase as part of Metropolitan Police three-year initiative called Operation Crackdown.

Croydon police smashed the Met target of 10 Class A drug offences by closing down 18 separate operations between 8 January and 26 February, making 95 arrests in the process.

Detective Inspector Phil Kaye, who heads the Croydon borough drugs task force, said: �The outcome is a tremendous result in being able to clear 18 premises from the borough.

�The professional commitment of our drugs task force was shown in achieving almost double the target set by the Met.�

The 59 officers involved made seizures totalling £120,000 in cash, and drugs with an estimated street value of £170,000 before last week's jackpot.

DI Kaye said: �The task force is the borough's primary team for combating class A drugs, such as heroin and crack cocaine, plus cannabis.

�It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week to tackle drug related offences in the borough, culminating in the (cannabis) seizure.�

He added: �We have increased our drug trafficking charges by 70 per cent. This success shows we are committed to reducing supplies on the street in Croydon and associated crimes like burglary and robbery.�

Anyone with information should call the Croydon borough drugs task force on 020 8649 0132 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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