Police get their claws out for crime raids

May 1 2008 by Kerry-Lynne Doyle, Glamorgan Gazette

A CANNABIS factory, class A drugs and wanted criminals were all discovered in a 48-hour crime blitz.

In all, 100 police officers spent two days searching houses for stolen goods and drugs in Operation Jaguar, a two-day crackdown on drug-related crime.

Twenty-five people were arrested after officers spent Tuesday and Wednesday targeting crimes often committed to feed drug habits, such as theft.

The operation saw officers search homes in Bridgend, North Cornelly and Maesteg for stolen goods and drugs.

Police also searched a cannabis factory found on Heol Ty’n-y-Garn, Penyfai, after a tip-off from a member of public.

Officers discovered a massive cannabis crop had already been harvested in the rented house, with its floor scattered with cannabis leaves.

During other searches, they found a syringe loaded with heroin, a substance thought to be liquid amphetamine and other drug paraphernalia during the raids.

Officers started searching homes at 8am on Tuesday.

In one home on Baiden Avenue, Kenfig Hill, officers found a liquid and powder substance, believed to be amphetamine.

Police spent an hour searching the house, where they also found syringes and a spoon prepared with a substance believed to be amphetamine.

Officers also found the electricity supply had been diverted away from the meter.

Two men were arrested on suspicion of abstracting electricity and another on suspicion of possessing amphetamine.

A neighbour of the arrested men said: “It’s good isn’t it?

“I have no time for people using drugs at all. I’m glad to see this action.”

An Operation Jaguar “For Sale” sign was hammered outside every home raided by police.

Community support officers knocked neighbours’ doors and gave out leaflets telling them how to report crime in their streets.

A woman living on Baiden Avenue said: “It’s lovely to see the police here. The drugs problem around here is awful.”

Police also arrested people wanted on warrants and gave advice on how to keep valuables out of sight in cars.

Inspector Jay Winslade-Gregory, who led the operation, said: “We have targeted the sort of people who may commit crime to fund a drug habit.

“Drugs have a huge impact on crime – people need to commit the crime to pay for the drugs.

“Tackle both and you can make an impact.”