Operation Crater – 100 arrests since new team was formed to tackle drug supply in Cardiff

One hundred suspected drug dealers have been arrested in the five months since a new, dedicated team was formed to tackle drug supply in Cardiff.

Since Op Crater launched at the beginning of April, the team – made up of officers from the Priority Policing Team and the Organised Crime Team – have been relentless in pursuing, and bringing to justice, those who cause such misery to the communities in the capital city.

With drug supply so intrinsically linked to violence and knife crime, the Op Crater team is also an integral part of the local implementation of Operation Sceptre, the national move to a tackle knife-crime across the UK.

The 100th person to be arrested in connection with possession and supply of Class A drugs since April, was apprehended on Tuesday, August 27.

Of those arrested, the 82 are local to Cardiff. Eighteen of those arrested are from outside of the area and are suspected to be linked to county lines drug dealing.

As a result of the significant number of arrests, officers have seized more than £152k worth of drugs – predominantly heroin and crack cocaine – and more than £81k in cash. A number of weapons, including knives and knuckledusters, have also been seized and sent for destruction.

Of the 100 arrested, 16 have so far been charged and brought before the courts, with prison sentences resulting in fifty-one-and-a-half years. More than 80 others are currently awaiting court proceedings.

Detective Superintendent Esyr Jones said: “Op Crater has made significant progress in disrupting Class A drug supply and the associated violence which accompanies this form of criminality; criminality which causes misery and heartache to communities throughout Cardiff.

“Since Op Crater launched in April, we have seen large amounts of drugs and weapons removed from our streets and some significant sentences handed down by the courts. Many more are awaiting court proceedings.

“These drug dealers – the majority of whom are from the very areas in which they peddle their goods – prey on the vulnerability of drug users purely for quick financial gain. They have a complete disregard for the consequences of their criminality and we will not stand by while our communities continue to suffer.

“While the Op Crater team has proved extremely successful so far, as has Operation Sceptre, we will not rest on our laurels and we will continue with this robust approach to remove them from our streets.

“As always, we would urge our communities to support us as we continue relentlessly to achieve this aim. We can, and regularly do, act upon the information provided to us by the public, so please keep it coming.”

Anyone with suspicions or information about illegal drug supply is urged to contact 101. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111.