25 arrested as police seize £250,000 of heroin in crackdown (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

25 arrested as police seize £250,000 of heroin in crackdown

7:00am Tuesday 25th September 2012 in News By Steve Wright, Crime Reporter

Police made 25 arrests and seized heroin valued at a quarter of a million pounds from two vehicles during a week-long crackdown on Drugs -related crime in Bradford.

A team of neighbourhood policing officers and detectives, acting on tip- offs from the public, swooped on a number of homes in Holme Wood , Bierley and Wyke .

Operation Snakecrest resulted in ten arrests for drugs offences and the uncovering of seven cannabis factories.

Other arrests were made for money laundering and arson with intent to endanger life, and warrants for £5,000 of unpaid fines were served, ten houses were searched, nine drugs warrants executed and seven vehicles seized.

Inspector Andy Addy, of the Tong and Wyke Neighbourhood Policing Team, hailed the operation as a success and said: “This work came about as a direct result of information from local residents.”

A car was stopped on the M606 and £150,000 of the drug seized. A second car, also subject to a routine stop, in Factory Street, Dudley Hill , was found to contain about £100,000 of heroin.

Drugs warrants were executed at addresses in St Margaret’s Avenue, Kesteven Road, Wenbor-ough Lane, Somerton Drive and Cordingley Close, in Holme Wood; Bayne Drive, Harmon Close, Burberry Close and Fawcett Place, in Bierley, and Griffe Head Road, Wyke, where 55 cannabis plants were recovered.

At the Harmon Close address, a large quantity of cash was found, including Euros and a counterfeit £20 note. Two high- value mountain bikes, which were suspected to have been stolen, were found, along with more than 20 electrical tools. A man was subsequently arrested from the address on suspicion of money laundering and burglary and another arrest was made in connection with the possession of cannabis.

Insp Addy said: “This was just one of the many warrants which saw arrests for the possession and supply of drugs, theft, arson with intent to endanger life, and the non-payment of fines.

“Officers also undertook 50 vehicle stops and seven of those were seized for having no insurance.

“Central to this operation was the co-operation of the public.”