60 arrests as police seize drugs worth £500,000 in crackdown (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

60 arrests as police seize drugs worth £500,000 in crackdown

7:00am Monday 16th July 2012 in News By Steve Wright, Crime Reporter

Drugs worth nearly £500,000 have been seized and 60 arrests made during a two-week police crackdown on gun and drugs crime in the Bradford district.

Dozens of officers every day have been taking part in Operation Sabredale which was set up to tackle firearms offences after a number of incidents which took place in the district.

The operation focused on three areas of the city where gun crime has been particularly prevalent – Girlington , Holme Wood and West Bowling . There were two reported shooting incidents earlier this month.

Six people escaped injury after damage was caused to a door and window of a house in Merton Road, Great Horton , and an empty vehicle was shot at in St Mary’s Road, Manningham .

Both incidents were described by police as targeted attacks.

Other incidents have included: l a shot being fired at the front door of a house in Arum Street, Canterbury l a shooting incident at a children’s playground in West Bowling l a shotgun being fired at a house in Holmewood Road, Holme Wood.

The gun problem has also been highlighted by a recent Court case in which brothers Zeeshan Khan and David Pemberton were jailed for a total of more than 20 years following the seizure by police of a Mac 10 sub machine gun, a pump action shotgun and a sniper’s rifle and 75 rounds of live ammunition from a van being driven in Bradford.

Operation Sabredale was set up to tackle firearms offences in the Bradford district head on.

The action followed top-level talks about the issue between senior police, community leaders and other partner organisations.

Detective Chief Inspector Dan Greenwood, in charge of crime and operations in the Bradford district, said the operation was a commitment to keeping the communities of Bradford safe and reducing the fear of firearms crime. During the operation, police seized two sawn-off shotguns and 90 rounds of ammunition from a house in Manningham.

Mohammed Rabnawaz, 25, of Devonshire Terrace, Manningham, appeared at Bradford Crown Court on Friday in connection with the seizure.

He has been charged with possession of firearms and ammunition, and possessing class A drugs with intent to supply. He was remanded in custody to await trial.

A home-made stun gun was recovered from an address in Heaton , where two vehicles were also seized, a Mercedes and a £60,000 Nissan GT-R.

During the two weeks 60 search warrants were executed, 50 of them drugs warrants.

More than 60 people have been arrested, more than half of those for drugs offences.

During the operation class A and B drugs – mostly heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and cannabis, valued at £438,000 – were seized by police. Officers also recovered £176,000 of criminal cash, as well as stolen jewellery valued at £92,000.

A total of 58 vehicles were seized, working with the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority. Many were unlicensed or untaxed and others were vehicles being used in crime, which is also strongly linked to drugs and firearms offences.

Officers also uncovered a counterfeit credit card factory, fully operational, at an address in Odsal where drugs were found. Two men were arrested in connection with that and charged to appear before magistrates.

Det Chief Insp Greenwood said: “We are delighted with how the operation has gone. The help we have received from the public has been fantastic.

“We hope we have made an impact on serious crime in the district and our target will be to continue to make an impact. Our work on these issues will carry on.”