12 arrested as police crackdown on drugs in Bristol continues

Police have made a series of arrests in their ongoing mission to tackle drug dealing on the streets of Bristol.

Crack, heroin, cannabis, cash and mobile phones were seized by officers over the course of a two-day operation that led to the arrest of 12 people.

One dealer, caught with 52 wraps of class A drugs down his trousers, has been sent to prison as the crackdown on drugs continues.

Daniel Miller, 23, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin. He was sentenced to 40 months in jail.

Miller was arrested on May 1, after officers on patrol in Greenbank spotted the “known drug dealer” getting out of a hire car. They gave chase and caught him with the drugs down his trousers, along with hundreds of pounds in cash and two mobile phones.

A later search of his home led to more drugs, cash and phones being seized.

Further arrests were made over the course of two days of drug busts that started last Tuesday (May 22):

These included two teenagers caught in The Galleries, in possession of large quantities of cannabis, as well as cash and phones.

The 16-year old girl from Horfield and 18-year-old man from St Paul’s were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class B drugs and have since been released under investigation.

Items seized from teenagers arrested in the Galleries. Photo from Avon and Somerset Police

Later on, a group said to be ‘acting suspiciously’ in Castle Park were detained and issued with dispersal notices following complaints from members of the public about anti-social behaviour.

Officers arrested an 18-year-old girl from Fishponds, who police say “repeatedly ignored warnings to leave the area and became aggressive towards them”. She was later issued with a fixed penalty notice and released.

Over in St Judes, police watched someone they identified as “a known drug dealer making a suspected deal” in Beaufort Street.

They arrested a 27-year-old Bedminster man on suspicion of possession with intent to supply, after catching him with suspected class A drugs and a large amount of cash on him.

Another man, 27, from Barton Hill was arrested after police “spotted him apparently selling items to a known drug user on Unity Street in St Philips”.

Officers say he was caught with a number of wraps of suspected class A drugs, a large amount of cash and a phone, and has also been released under investigation.

Items found on man arrested in St Philip’s. Photo from Avon and Somerset Police

A car “acting suspiciously” in Easton led to the arrest of two men, a 35-year-old from Fishponds and 20-year-old from Kingswood.

Police stopped the vehicle and searched the occupants, who were found to be in possession of Class A drugs, large amounts of cash and multiple mobile phones. The men have been released under investigation as police enquiries continue.

Thursday brought a further series of arrests, starting with a 27-year-old man from St Paul’s, who was caught in Tower Hill, St Philip’s. Police say he was wanted on a warrant for failing to attend a court trial for drugs offences. He was remanded in custody and appeared in court the next morning.

A police chase ended with an arrest near Temple Meads

Later on the same day, a moped chase ended at Temple Meads, where Clay James, 22, from Barton Hill, was arrested and charged with dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and for driving without insurance.

Police also arrested 18-year-old Daunte Edwards, from London, on Backfields Lane, St Paul’s, after plain clothes officers witnessed suspected drug deals taking place. He was charged with possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

Finally, a 24-year-old man from Easton, who police say was wanted for breach of a court order, was arrested and taken to Bristol Magistrates’ Court after officers spotted him entering the Lawrence Hill roundabout.

Easton neighbourhood sergeant Chris Green said: “The number of arrests made last week and the subsequent charges show that we are determined to fulfil our promise made to the communities of Easton and St Paul’s that we will not let people get away with openly dealing drugs in their streets.

“We rely on the support of the community to make these operations work – please tell us what you know, so that we can continue to target the people bringing crime and misery to local areas.”

Report anything suspicious via the police website or by calling 101. If a crime is in progress then call 999.

Alternatively, pass information anonymously to Crimestoppers, by calling 0800 555111, or visiting: www.crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information.

The war on drugs in Bristol was depicted in the BBC documentary Drugsland. Photo from the BBC.