News / Crime
Double drug raid at block of flats
It’s 6.30am as the tranquillity of two hot air balloons floating above south Bristol is interrupted by two police vans dashing to a double drug raid.
When they arrive at the scene, the officers jump out of their vehicles and rush up flights of stairs to two properties in the same block of flats in Southville.
Within minutes, they are gathered around the front of one home. Within another minute, they have battered the door open.
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As police barge into the property at Little Cross House in Phipps Street, a dog can be heard barking next door. Neighbours young and old come out to support each other as they try to make sense of what’s going on.
On another floor, where the second flat is being raided, the same scene of confusion and intrigue is playing out.
Later, a 39-year-old woman, who has since been released under investigation, is arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.
Police leave the scene having seized mobile phones, drug paraphernalia and suspected methadone.
Two properties were raided raided by police on Wednesday morning as part of Operation Scorpion – photo: Charlie Watts
The property searches conducted on a recent Wednesday morning were part of Operation Scorpion, a collaboration between the five police forces in the South West to crack down on drugs in the region.
A focus of the operation is to highlight the intelligence police need from the public to help disrupt the local drugs market, dismantle supply networks and arrest those who profit from them.
Speaking to Bristol24/7 during the incident, Avon & Somerset police inspector Chris Green said: “Activity like this morning just demonstrates to the community that when they call us, when they speak to the council and they call Crimestoppers, we will take action.
“We’ve had residents come out this morning, some in tears, saying that they’re just relieved to see us and relieved to see something happening.
“I think that that collective energy between us, the local authority and drug support agencies is a massive contributor to reducing the harm of drugs.”
Now in its second phase, the first stage of Operation Scorpion in March saw 55 warrants carried out, 194 arrests made and at least £404,000 of suspected drugs seized.
Main photo: Charlie Watts
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