Police vow to smash drugs market

POLICE have vowed to disrupt the supply of drugs in South Devon after a series of high-profile drugs raids yesterday.

Suspected Class A drugs, two vehicles, cash, mobile phones and computer equipment were seized after police searched three addresses in Newton Abbot and Torquay.

The early morning searches, executed under the Misuse of Drugs Act, targeted the supply of illegal narcotics between drugs markets in Torquay and Newton Abbot.

Police today warned inquiries are still ongoing and enforcement action could be taken to shut down suspected drug dens.

The covert operation targeted two flats in Bradley Lane and an address in Ellacombe Road, Torquay.

The police-led operation involved Tactical Aid Group officers, sniffer dogs, uniformed officers and community policing teams.

In Newton Abbot officers conducted searches of two premises in the flats near Asda.

A quantity of what police believe to be methadone was recovered from one of the flats and has been sent away for tests.

One person, who did not want to be named, said there were 'constant problems' with vandalism and people 'waiting around' the area.

"I won't let my children walk out on their own here.

"Every week you can guarantee the police are here at least three times and there are constant problems here.

"I have never known a place to have so many police cars visiting all the time," the person said.

Teignbridge Detective Inspector Sam De Reya is leading the inquiry which also involves Teignbridge Council.

She said: "We acted on information supplied to us by the public related to drug dealing, drug taking and anti-social behaviour in the Newton Abbot area.

"We don't want that sort of behaviour in our communities and people living near it do not want to put up with it.

"Our aim was to detect, deter and disrupt the drug supply into Newton Abbot and an address in Torquay was searched as part of that operation."

She confirmed inquiries will be ongoing and urged people who saw suspicious behaviour to come forward with information.

She said: "There could be more activity as a result of these warrants executed today.

"It does not just stop here. We will continue to look at the intelligence as it comes in to us."

She stressed anti-social behaviour was low across Teignbridge but was keen to reassure residents police were working hard to kept it that way.

She said: "We want the public tell us if they are having problems in their communities so we can respond to it quickly.

"In this instance we did just that and hope we can reassure the public we are continuing to look at it.

"We are not talking about Newton Abbot having a big problem with drug dealing but by stopping it in the early stages, we are preventing the problem escalating."

High visibility police patrols will continue with officers giving crime prevention advice to local residents.

Teignbridge Council's leader Cllr Alan Connett said persistent anti-social behaviour problems could be dealt with by imposing anti-social behaviour orders or closure notices on places that are making residents' lives miserable.

He said: "We have a very good relationship with police and have taken action before against those causing problems.

"Previously, we have issued anti-social behaviour orders in Buckfastleigh and closed down a flat in Dawlish and will continue to work with police behind the scenes if there are problems identified to them."

Two men, aged 39 and 42, were arrested on suspicion of possessing Class A drugs and due to be quizzed yesterday at Torquay police station.