More than £600k cash seized and 26 arrests made in four-day drugs crackdown

Yahoo

24-05-2025

More than £600,000 in cash has been seized and 26 arrests made following four policing operations targeting drug supply across Cumbria.
The four days of action in Penrith, Barrow, west Cumbria, and Carlisle saw officers conduct 18 warrants and 15 stop searches where they recovered:
£612,300 in cash
81 cannabis plants
Over 2,000 cannabis edibles and vapes
Over 200 Pregabalin
Numerous recoveries of cocaine, cannabis (herbal), Ketamine and other benzodiazepine
Numerous weapons including samurai sword, knives, and air rifles.
Illicit Tobacco and cigarettes
Cryptocurrency and associated paraphernalia.
More than 20 vehicles were stopped during the operations with a number of traffic offence reports issued and drug wipes conducted.
Detective Superintendent Ian Hussey said: "The four operations aimed to disrupt and target those involved in drug supply in Cumbria.
"Drug offences often lead to other types of crimes which has a negative impact on our communities.
"The commissioner's funding allowed us to take targeted action across four days across our county.
"However, the work does not stop there, our officers continue to target those involved in serious and organised crime.
"We urge anyone with information on drug activities within our community to report information to us.
"Without your reporting we may not become aware of criminal activities or be able to get the results we have seen with these operations."
The operations, conducted as part of Operation Alliance, were funded by Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner David Allen as part of the Drugs Fund.
Officers engaged with businesses and members of the public in pubs and bars - 21 pubs were visited by drug scanning dog PD Drake and his handle PC Mann.
A number of schools were also visited by officers so they could speak to students about the dangers of drugs, what to look out for, and how to protect themselves from county line drug dealers.
Ten safeguarding referrals were made by officers.
Commissioner David Allen said: "I'm proud to have used money seized from drug dealers to fund operations that target others involved in drug crime. Turning criminals' profits against them is an effective and responsible use of resources.
"I promised a zero-tolerance approach to drugs, which cause immense harm to our communities. We're delivering on that promise.
"Each operation costs around £10,000 to carry out, and so far, they've resulted in over £600,000 worth of cash and harmful drugs being taken off our streets.
"Importantly, some of this recovered money will also be reinvested into our communities, supporting local projects such as youth and sports clubs. These initiatives provide safe spaces for young people, promote discipline, and crucially help steer them away from the dangers of drug involvement."