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Police swoop on crack den in drugs bust
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| Drugs paraphernalia and cash recovered from the property |
A PREGNANT woman was led out of an Orford crack den in handcuffs after police battered down her front door in a drugs raid.
The woman, thought to be in her 30s, was one of two women, who cannot be named for legal reasons, arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of dealing class A drugs.
Police staked out the house for several hours before swooping in to make the arrests, as part of its Operation Strikeout. It was one of a number of warrants executed across Warrington during National Tackling Drugs Week.
In the bust, officers discovered two wraps of heroin, six wraps of crack cocaine, a large amount of money and mobile phones.
Insp Andy Ross, of Warrington Central Neighbourhood Police Unit, said: "One of them was trying to swallow a load of drugs but was stopped by one of the officers.
"There was evidence of drug-use, with burned foil and a crack pipe in the lounge, as well as money, so we hope there will be enough evidence to substantiate dealing."
Insp Ross said this raid was typical of what the force will be doing.
He explained: "I am looking to carry out warrants regularly in an effort to crack down on drug crime and make people feel safer.
"The two drivers for crime in this country are alcohol and drugs.
"From community action meetings it is clear that drug dealing, the perception of people taking drugs and associated anti-social behaviour are high on people's worry list, so it is quite right we do something about that."
While officers searched the fetid flat, which had its front windows boarded up, the evidence of brick missiles still piled in the kitchen, CSOs distributed leaflets in the neighbourhood informing residents of the operation.
One resident, with his young daughter in tow, came out of his house to witness the commotion.
He said: "Hopefully this will mean the end of people making a nuisance all the time.
"It wasn't too bad around here four years ago but it has become really bad.
"It's been going on for months, people knocking on your door with stolen items trying to sell you stuff.
"It's shocking, especially when you have little kids about. There should be CCTV. It would be a lot safer because you don't know where they are discarding needles."
The two women were taken in for questioning and were released on police bail pending an investigation.
l Anyone with information on drug crime should contact police on 0845 458000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
10:21am Thursday 22nd May 2008
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