Raids target drug dealers

3:57pm Thursday 22nd May 2008

A series of dramatic dawn raids on suspected drug dealers across the district led to 43 arrests in only four days, police revealed today.

Detectives believe the second phase of Operation Chevette, which got under way on Monday and ended today, has caused major disruption to drug dealing in Bradford and Keighley.

At least two of those arrested on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs were as young as 16, while a 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of possessing an imitation firearm - an air pistol.

Before the operation swung into action, about 100 police officers gathered for an early morning briefing at Eccleshill Police station.

Detective Inspector Ian Devey told the assembled officers that undercover teams had been gathering evidence of distribution of Class A drugs across the district.

He said 87 people had been arrested and charged during the first phase of Operation Chevette in March, when more than 400 offences of drug dealing had been detected.

In a rallying cry to officers, he said: "Your role today is to conduct searches of premises. Make sure you gain rapid access and arrest the suspects. These people are likely to be engaged in drug dealing, so we are looking for evidence of that."

With those instructions fresh in mind, dozens of officers got the raids under way by swooping on a house in the Lund Park area of Keighley.

By the end of the operation, 43 arrests had been made, all those arrested had been charged and 250 crimes had been detected as a result of the raids.

Officers also recovered £21,500 in cash and Class A drugs with an estimated street value of £7,500.

• Full story in Friday's T&A

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