Shrewsbury targeted as more than 50 arrests made in Midlands-wide police operation
More than 50 people have been arrested over drugs, stolen cars and weapons in a police operation which covered Shrewsbury as well as Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire.
Operation Yarrow was launched to tackle the supply line of drugs.
Properties and people were targeted in Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Worcester, Leamington Spa, Stratford-upon-Avon, Stafford and Burton.
Officers arrested 54 people and seized cocaine, heroin and cannabis. Cash and weapons were also seized including knives and Samurai swords.
As part of the crackdown, officers arrested three men following a raid on a property in Bradmore, Wolverhampton, last Thursday.
A quantity of what is believed to be Class A drugs, hundreds of pounds in cash and drugs paraphernalia, including weighing scales, were recovered.
Superintendent Scott Jones, of the Regional Organised Crime Unit, led the operation.
He said: "This operation was all about working together across the region for maximum effect to disrupt the dealers and to protect the vulnerable in our communities.
“Adult drug users, vulnerable women and younger members of the community are exploited for their properties, which is sometimes referred to as cuckooing, or to store or deal class-A drugs.
"They are also used for the transportation of the drugs across the country. We won’t tolerate this activity in our communities and will do everything we can to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable people.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Javid Oomer, of Staffordshire Police, said: “Working with our colleagues across the region we will act fast and decisively to take drugs off our streets to keep our communities safe from harm and to protect the vulnerable. If you suspect relatives or friends are being targeted please call us.”
“We’re sending out a clear message to those who want to prey on the vulnerable: we will find you and bring you before the courts."
Wolverhampton Neighbourhood Police Inspector Steve Perry led the Black Country arm of the operation.
He said: “Our efforts are aimed not only on getting the leaders of these networks but also to identify and safeguard vulnerable people, often children, who are being used to transfer drugs.
“We made some notable arrests during the operation and had traffic units targeting arterial routes out of Wolverhampton that could be used to transport drugs to outlying towns and villages.”
