Two arrests and ‘drugs’ seized in early morning raid in Beverley
GOING INTO CUSTODY: A man arrested in Beverley this morning on suspicion of a drugs offence
By Simon Bristow
A very loud bang as the door went in, shouts of “Police! Police!”, and the terrified scream of a suspected drug-dealer were the dramatic sounds that accompanied the execution of a Misuse of Drugs Act warrant in Beverley this morning.
A seven-strong team of Operation Galaxy officers from Humberside Police, with two colleagues there for the experience, had pulled up outside the property in Wellington Road in a van and three other police vehicles seconds earlier.
It was just after 9am, and the culmination of an intelligence-led operation that had been authorised by a magistrate, and led to two arrests and the seizure of a “large quantity” of suspected Class A drugs, possibly crack cocaine.
READY FOR ANYTHING: Officers taking part in the morning raid
The two men who were asleep in the one-bedroom flat at the time were said to be “massively shocked”, but in hindsight may have been somewhat relieved to find the intruders to be police.
Sergeant Jo Clark, who lead the operation, said: “You’ve got to be mindful they are [allegedly] in the drugs arena and there’s a lot of drugs ‘taxing’ where other dealers come and take over premises. That would have been going through their minds and that’s why we always shout ‘Police’.”
The raid was one of a series taking place across Hull and surrounding areas as part of an “intensification” of Operation Galaxy, which has been hugely effective in targeting criminals since its launch by the force over two years ago.
Firearms and stolen goods are among the other targets of the raids, which are given out to operational teams in weekly taskings.
Explaining the background to raids such as the one in Wellington Road, Sgt Clark said: “It’s an intelligence-led operation and intelligence comes from a range of sources. We [the team] never find out where from but there’s sufficient to satisfy a judge who authorises the search warrant.
“It’s been successful today but my first port of call was with the neighbourhood team so they are aware of what we are doing, and they will send local officers down afterwards to reassure the community.”
‘LOCAL OFFICERS WILL BE COMING TO PROVIDE REASSURANCE’: Sergeant Jo Clark
A spokeswoman for Humberside Police said: “As Operation Galaxy intensification enters its second week, two men are now in our custody following an intelligence-led warrant in Beverley this morning.
“They executed a Misuse of Drugs Act warrant at a property in Wellington Road as part of the continued action tackling crime in our communities.
“Upon entering the property, officers conducted a thorough search and recovered a large quantity of suspected Class A drugs along with other paraphernalia.
“Two men aged 30 and 39 have both been arrested on suspicion of being concerned with the supply of Class A drugs and remain in custody at this time.”
Anyone with information about drugs offences can call the force on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.