Drug crackdown in Boscombe

A drugs operation in the Boscombe area of Bournemouth, which aims to disrupt the supply of drugs and open drugs misuse, has moved into a third week after thousands of pounds worth of drugs were seized.

Operation Salmon was due to run between 8 February 2010 and 19 February 2010, however, due to a large number of arrests and seizures of drugs, officers chose to extend the operation for another week.

Up to 30 people were arrested, with the majority of them being detained on suspicion of having committed drugs offences, by officers from the East Cliff, Springbourne and Boscombe West Safer Neighbourhood Teams.

The drugs are currently being forensically examined but are believed to be a mixture of heroin, cocaine and cannabis.

The operation included enhanced activity, such as plain-clothed foot and car patrols and using ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition), to identify vehicles suspected of being linked to drugs.

Sergeant Guy Nicholas said: “This operation has come as a direct result of members of the public telling us that open drug misuse and drug dealing is an issue in the Boscombe Precinct and surrounding area.

“Following the success of Operation Salmon in the autumn of last year, the community told us that it had had an impact and the Safer Neighbourhood Teams could see a reduction in drug crime. Therefore, we knew it would be a good idea to run it again.

“Boscombe is simply not the place to deal or take drugs as we are taking action.”

34-year-old Andrew William Smith, from Bournemouth, has been charged with the alleged possession of a Class A drug and is due before Bournemouth Magistrates court on 5 March 2010.

23-year-old Hussein Mohammed Hussein, from Earlsfield, London, has pleaded not guilty to obstructing a police officer during a drugs search, and the case is set for a trial in July 2010.

24-year-old John Murphy, of no fixed abode, has pleaded guilty to affray and failing to surrender and is due to be sentenced at Bournemouth Magistrates court on 11 March 2010.

Twenty-one others have been bailed pending further enquiries.