Dawn drug raids net 25 criminals (From Barry And District News)

Dawn drug raids net 25 criminals

BARRY'S drug dealers and thieves were targeted in a series of dawn raids this week.

On Tuesday police stormed addresses across the Vale in the eighth part of Operation Arrowhead, which so far has resulted in of 1,172 arrests since May 2003.

More than 25 people were hauled into stations across the division, making this the most successful Arrowhead operation to date.

Officers targeted criminals who make a living from stealing and selling on stolen property, feeding a market worth up to £17 million pounds in South Wales.

In line with previous operations, known offenders were targeted, as officers executed search warrants on drug handlers, drug suppliers and suppliers of counterfeit goods.

DS Steve Jennings from the Divisional Drug Team said: "There was a series of co-ordinated raids across Barry and the Vale. Apart from the arrests made as a direct result of the warrants executed on Tuesday, we would have effectively shut down the drugs trade in the area for at least 24 hours. These disruptive tactics and our continued presence on the streets ensures illegal substances are contained."

Inspector Geraint Evans, said: "As a result of this operation we have disrupted an organised supply of counterfeit and illegal property. Working in partnership with Trading Standards Officers, we have seized property worth many thousands of pounds."

Police believe the public thinks buying stolen or counterfeited goods is socially acceptable - an 'okay' crime.

But most people don't realise that up to 70 percent of class A drugs are bought with the proceeds of crime, a large portion of which is bought from stolen goods.

Earlier in the week an operation targeting people committing criminal deception in relation to their car insurance resulted in five arrests. Those arrested had not declared relevant criminal convictions to their insurance companies. Superintendent Josh Jones, Divisional Commander for the Vale of Glamorgan, said: "The Vale of Glamorgan is one of the safest places to live in South Wales - unless you're a criminal. Today was about targetting those people whose criminal activity makes other peoples lives a misery."

Approximately 20,000 Arrowhead leaflets will be handed to the public, urging them to tell police what they know.