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Watch out, watch out - the drugs squad are coming

Alex Scapens
28/ 5/2008

"WE are going to come through your door and get you". That’s the message Stockport police are giving drug dealers as officers smashed their way into a dozen homes in the borough during dawn raids last week.

In executing the 12 warrants, 18 people were arrested and a "substantial amount" of substances suspected to be cocaine and cannabis were seized.

The raids took place across the borough – in areas including Gatley, Heald Green, Brinnington, Edgeley, Bramhall, Reddish and Cheadle Hulme. Up to 16 officers at a time, dressed in stab vests, used riot shields and battering rams while being supported by a team of Police Community Support Officers.

Shocked suspects were led off in handcuffs, caught out by police breaking through their doors as they slept.

And Insp Dave Sutcliffe, from Stockport’s anti-drugs team, says although this is a big blow in the battle against drugs, more raids will keep the heat on suspected dealers.

He said: "If you are out there dealing drugs expect us to come through your door at any time. We will target you and come for you.

"These raids have been a great success – they will keep the bad guys guessing for a while. A number of wanted criminals have been taken off the streets and a dent made into the drugs market.

"One or two were a little bit hostile but officers are trained to deal with such individuals. Those were got forcibly and handcuffed."

Laptops, mobile phones, CS gas and kendo sticks were also recovered in the raids, which took place between May 19-23 as part of Operation Alligator.

Arrests were made on suspicion of drug dealing and burglary, and an arrestee in Brinnington faces accusations of tampering with electricity to get a free supply.

Intelligence for the raids came from the public and police surveillance, with those with a number of previous burglary arrests and positive drug tests earmarked as targets.

Other agencies, such as the Safer Stockport Partnership, also helped.

Forensic tests and weighing will be carried out on substances seized to confirm exactly what, and of what quantity, they are.

Insp Sutcliffe added: "We will be taking continued action – tackling drugs is right up there as a priority. Disrupting the class-A drugs market means they won’t be supporting crime and misery.

"We leafleted other properties in the areas targeted asking for further information about the sale of drugs. We are expecting a significant increase in intelligence."

The raids were part of a Greater Manchester-wide operation in which 162 warrants lead to 120 arrests.

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