More than £600k cash seized and 26 arrests made in four-day drugs crackdown
More than £600,000 in cash has been seized and 26 arrests made following four policing operations targeting drug supply across Cumbria.
The four days of action in Penrith, Barrow, west Cumbria, and Carlisle saw officers conduct 18 warrants and 15 stop searches where they recovered:
£612,300 in cash
81 cannabis plants
Over 2,000 cannabis edibles and vapes
Over 200 Pregabalin
Numerous recoveries of cocaine, cannabis (herbal), Ketamine and other benzodiazepine
Numerous weapons including samurai sword, knives, and air rifles.
Illicit Tobacco and cigarettes
Cryptocurrency and associated paraphernalia.
More than 20 vehicles were stopped during the operations with a number of traffic offence reports issued and drug wipes conducted.
Detective Superintendent Ian Hussey said: "The four operations aimed to disrupt and target those involved in drug supply in Cumbria.
"Drug offences often lead to other types of crimes which has a negative impact on our communities.
"The commissioner's funding allowed us to take targeted action across four days across our county.
"However, the work does not stop there, our officers continue to target those involved in serious and organised crime.
"We urge anyone with information on drug activities within our community to report information to us.
"Without your reporting we may not become aware of criminal activities or be able to get the results we have seen with these operations."
The operations, conducted as part of Operation Alliance, were funded by Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner David Allen as part of the Drugs Fund.
Officers engaged with businesses and members of the public in pubs and bars - 21 pubs were visited by drug scanning dog PD Drake and his handle PC Mann.
A number of schools were also visited by officers so they could speak to students about the dangers of drugs, what to look out for, and how to protect themselves from county line drug dealers.
Ten safeguarding referrals were made by officers.
Commissioner David Allen said: "I'm proud to have used money seized from drug dealers to fund operations that target others involved in drug crime. Turning criminals' profits against them is an effective and responsible use of resources.
"I promised a zero-tolerance approach to drugs, which cause immense harm to our communities. We're delivering on that promise.
"Each operation costs around £10,000 to carry out, and so far, they've resulted in over £600,000 worth of cash and harmful drugs being taken off our streets.
"Importantly, some of this recovered money will also be reinvested into our communities, supporting local projects such as youth and sports clubs. These initiatives provide safe spaces for young people, promote discipline, and crucially help steer them away from the dangers of drug involvement."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
38 minutes ago
- Fox News
Deadly lawmaker ambush in Minnesota raises fears about fake police officers knocking on doors
Vance Boelter left the state of Minnesota in fear after he allegedly posed as a police officer and carried out the shootings of two state lawmakers, killing one and her husband, at their homes last week. But what can you do to verify that the person who knocks on your door or pulls you over while you're in your vehicle is a law enforcement officer? Mark Bruley, chief of police in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, where Boelter allegedly shot and killed Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, told reporters at a press conference earlier this week that there's one thing you can do that's "never wrong." "You always can call 911 and verify if the person at your door is a police officer," Bruley said. "If they are working police officer, they will be connected to a dispatch center that can validate that. So the first thing I would do is, if you're concerned about it, is call 911. Obviously, there's a lot of different uniforms, and it's never wrong to do that." Police officers typically wear a visible badge with their identification number and name on their uniform. They often also carry agency-issued photo identification that can include their name, rank and agency information. Fox News Digital spoke with Brian Higgins, founder of Group 77 and former Chief of Police of Bergen County, N.J., to learn more about what citizens can do in cases where they feel the need to verify that who they're speaking to is a law enforcement officer. Higgins said that most verification measures, such as requesting the officer's photo identification, require the citizen to open the door, at which point it would be too late if the individual is an impersonator. "If you're not sure, don't open the door," Higgins said, adding that citizens can stand to the side of their door and speak to officers through the door while calling 911 or the local police department to confirm that an officer was sent to their home. Higgins said that knowing what police uniforms look like and, if you live in a town with a smaller police force, being familiar with its members helps with verifying. "If you see an officer not in uniform, not someone you recognize," Higgins said, "it's prudent to call police and ask if this person is a police officer." Not all situations, however, are the same. "It's more difficult when on the road and a police officer pulls you over," Higgins said of verification during traffic stops. In these situations, Higgins said it's important to know what law enforcement vehicles look like, adding that sometimes real law enforcement cars can be unmarked. Higgins said officers usually call in traffic violations to dispatch, so drivers can still call 911 or the local police to verify that an officer performing their duties initiated the stop. Higgins advised citizens to always be aware of their surroundings and to pull over in public places, if possible. If unable to immediately pull over in a public place, Higgins said drivers can lower their window just enough, keep their car in drive and ask the officer if it's possible to drive to another place that is safer or more public. Higgins said that police officers understand that citizens may be uncertain or nervous and ask for verification. "If their answer is anything other than professional, it should raise a concern," Higgins said. That is, if the citizen didn't do anything obviously illegal like run a red light, he added as a caveat. In the case in Minnesota, Boelter allegedly impersonated a police officer, wearing a flesh-colored mask, a black tactical vest and carrying a flashlight before shooting and killing state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and wounding state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, at their respective homes. Boelter also drove a black SUV equipped with police-style lights and a fake license plate that said "POLICE," according to a court affidavit. Video footage from Hoffman's home shows a masked Boelter at the front door wearing the black tactical vest and holding a flashlight, according to the affidavit. Boelter then allegedly knocked on their door and shouted repeatedly, "This is the police. Open the door." The Hoffmans answered the door but, since Boelter was shining the flashlight in their eyes, realized too late that Boelter was not a real police officer, the affidavit said.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Family 'devastated' after goats stolen from farm
A family said it has been left "absolutely devastated" after two of its hand-reared goats were stolen. Emma Johnson, who lives at a farm in Dogdyke, Lincoln, said she noticed the goats, both called Fred, were gone on Thursday morning when it was "deadly silent". She said it felt like a "violation" and questioned whether "it's worth the risk" to continue keeping goats on the farm. Lincolnshire Police said it received a report of the goats "believed to have been stolen from a field" between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. She said the goats had been left outside on the night they were stolen due to the warm weather. She discovered they had both gone at about 06:00 BST on Thursday morning. "Big Fred had a bell and it was deadly silent. We knew something was going on because we couldn't hear it. "He usually stands at the gate in the morning for his breakfast. Fred Goat was also missing," she said. Ms Johnson said they had already increased security measures at the farm after another goat was taken three weeks before. Ms Johnson said: "We've got a toddler in the family who was absolutely in love with that white goat. "These are family pets so it's absolutely devastating." She added: "It's the afterthought of thinking someone has been walking on my property at night without me knowing. "That leaves a psychological scarring on you." A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police said: "We received a report of two goats believed to have been stolen from a field at a property in Dogdyke sometime between 23:00 BST on 18 June and 06:00 on 19 June. "We would welcome any information that may assist our inquiries." Meanwhile, police have appealed for information after the remains of a number of sheep were found in the Boston area at Hobhole Bank on 14 June. They asked farmers to check their flocks to see if they had any livestock missing, particularly ewes and black headed rams. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Lambs left orphaned after mum stolen 'for meat' Farmer condemns 'brutal' killing of stolen sheep Lincolnshire Police
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Woman prosecuted for riding e-scooter in public says 'store shouldn't sell them'
A WOMAN brought before a court for riding an e-scooter in public without a licence or insurance said the store she bought it from 'shouldn't be allowed to sell them'. Haley Bower, 37, was stopped by officers while riding the vehicle along the pavement on the A596 at Siddick at 10.30pm on March 7. Pamela Fee, prosecuting at Workington Magistrates' Court, said police spoke to the defendant and told her the e-scooter had to be road legal and licensed. Ms Fee said it then became clear that Bower only had a provisional licence and there was no insurance for the vehicle being used in a public place. Police could smell cannabis and a search was carried out under the Misuse of Drugs Act. A small wrap of cannabis, a joint and a grinder were found. The e-scooter was seized by police and Bower was reported for driving it without a licence and without insurance. Bower, who was not legally represented, said: 'I didn't know I wasn't allowed to use the thing. They shouldn't be allowed to sell them in Halfords. 'I was driving up and down the lane. I didn't know it wasn't allowed.' Bower, of Hillcrest, Northside. Workington, pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence, using a motor vehicle in a public place without third party insurance and possessing a Class B drug. Passing sentence, presiding magistrate Mark Gear, said: 'There is a surge of people riding these e-scooters on pavements and things. There is some sympathy with you about how you got it from Halfords. 'We are here to protect other people. 'The reason for you having it is legitimate. In the wrong hands, people are being injured by them and the court has to take a view on that. 'You did take it outside the remit of your own land and we have to deal with that.' Bower was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £64 victim surcharge. Her driving licence was endorsed with six points. An order was made for the forfeiture and destruction of the cannabis.
