Latest news with #SWROCU
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Two charged after stash of class A drugs, cash and illegal vapes found
A STASH of class A drugs, hundreds of illegal disposable vapes, and around £20,000 cash was found following a raid. Two people have been charged and large amounts of drugs and cash seized following work by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU), closely supported by the East Dorset Neighbourhood Team. The teams carried out a warrant on Old Manor Close in Wimborne, Dorset, on Tuesday August 5, which led to approximately 1.5kg cocaine, half a kilo of heroin, cannabis, MDMA, hundreds of illegal disposable vapes, and around £20,000 cash being seized. A knuckle duster, flick knife and extendable baton were also recovered. Grant Putman, 32, and Brooke Marshall, 34, have both been charged with two counts of possession with intent to supply class A (cocaine and heroin), two counts of possession with intent to supply class B (cannabis and cannabis resin), money laundering, and three counts of possession of an offensive weapon. Putman was additionally charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine. They are both due to appear at Weymouth Magistrates' Court August 7.
BBC News
23-07-2025
- BBC News
Former Wiltshire Police constable guilty of gross misconduct
A former police constable has been found guilty of gross misconduct after being convicted for a child sex Geering, 44, from London, was found to have breached standards of professional behaviour - namely honesty, integrity and discreditable month he was sentenced to 28 weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, after pleading guilty to attempted sexual communication with a the misconduct hearing on Tuesday, it was determined had he not previously resigned from Wiltshire Police, he would have been dismissed without notice. He has also been placed on the Sex Offenders' register for seven years, and will be unable to work in policing in the believed he was messaging with a child under 16 when he used Snapchat to engage in sexual was arrested in April 2024 as part of an operation by a team at South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU), which worked to tackle offences online including child sexual abuse and was suspended from duty and resigned from the force two months later. Conduct 'incompatible' Wiltshire Police Dep Ch Con Mark Cooper said: "Our communities rightly expect the highest standards of professional behaviour from all our officers and staff."Geering's conduct is simply incompatible with that expected of Wiltshire Police. As soon as we were made aware of this matter, he was immediately suspended."We continue to encourage and enable all members of our organisation to report concerns they have regarding a colleague's behaviour and we won't hesitate to investigate without fear or favour."
BBC News
09-07-2025
- BBC News
Two arrested after multi-agency response in Camborne
Two people have been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences after a multi-agency response in Camborne, South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) visited an address on Tuesday alongside Devon and Cornwall Police and Immigration Enforcement. Police said when officers arrived they found "dangerous wiring of the house which resulted in National Grid and the fire service being called".The force added other people in the property were evacuated during the operation due to the dangerous wiring.
BBC News
06-07-2025
- BBC News
Police arrest 37 in major county lines crackdown
Thirty-seven people have been arrested across the West of England in a major operation targeting drug supply networks. Police from Avon and Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire seized £35,700 in cash, as well as drugs including heroin, cannabis and cocaine. Officers were carrying out a regional week of action from 23 to 29 June as part of Operation police and crime commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, said: "Criminals rely on gaps in awareness and accountability, and we are working to close those gaps across the region." The three police forces also teamed up with Devon and Cornwall Police and Dorset Police, and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU).In total across the five regions, police arrested 102 people and seized 66kg of cocaine, 14kg of cannabis and £119,000 in vehicles were also seized, including six officers shut down 29 suspected county lines – mobile phone lines used to take orders of this latest stage of Operation Scorpion, policing teams targeted those who exploit children and vulnerable people to supply and store Con Andy Hill of SWROCU said it was a "stark reality" that the average age of someone controlling a drugs line is 21, and the average age of a drug runner is just 15 to 17. In Wiltshire, 25 people were arrested including eight drug line holders, who were charged and remanded in custody. Officers disrupted and removed 14 drug lines from operation, in addition to seizing 15 offensive weapons including a firearm, a stun gun disguised as a torch, knives and force also seized 1.3kg of cannabis found in carrier bags and 107 MDMA Ch Insp Charlotte Tucker, of Wiltshire Police, said: "We will continue to work together to tackle these issues and make the South West a hostile environment for these suspected criminals to operate in." Avon and Somerset Police engaged with industries that may be unknowingly helping drug supply spoke to staff at hotels, private hire companies and postal services to raise awareness of the signs of exploitation and encourage staff to report any suspicions or also spoke to around 1,000 taxi Police, meanwhile, visited homes where concerns had been raised about potential cuckooing – where a drug dealer takes over a vulnerable person's address and uses it as a base to commit people were safeguarded as a result, and officers worked with partner agencies to put measures in place to ensure a long-term plan for their support. 'United approach' The force's police and crime commissioner, Chris Nelson, said: "Combining the resources of all of the region's forces demonstrates a united approach to policing in an attempt to reduce the serious harm and violence caused by drugs. "By recognising the signs and behaviour to look out for, we can all play our part in smashing these gangs and send a clear message that this region will not tolerate this harmful criminal activity."
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Yahoo
Man jailed for trafficking exploited sex worker
A man who first came to the attention of police as part of a money laundering investigation has been jailed for a string of offences including human trafficking. Zhaoqian Yu, of Derryfield Court in Oldbury, Birmingham, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday where he was jailed for five years and 10 months. The 34-year-old pleaded guilty to human trafficking, controlling prostitution for gain, conspiracy to import cannabis, and transferring criminal property. DC Katie Andrews from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) said the further Yu was investigated, the more crimes they uncovered. More news stories for Gloucestershire Listen to the latest news for Gloucestershire The investigation into Yu was first launched back in 2019, when SWROCU uncovered a money laundering network in Gloucester which he had links to. Following further leads, they discovered Yu was involved in controlling prostitutes at a premises in Birmingham. As part of his role running the brothel, he trafficked a sex worker from London to Birmingham while fully aware the woman was being exploited. Between August 2018 and June 2019, Yu transferred £347,000 in cash to individuals living and working at a Chinese restaurant in Gloucester who were operating an underground banking service. Yu was fully aware this money was the proceeds of crime, police said. Between December 2018 and October 2021, Yu also conspired with others to illegally import 119 kilos of cannabis. He was found to have personally arranged for 34 kilos of the class B drug to come into the UK, with the intention of passing it on to others. DC Andrews said: "This has been an extremely complex case with a significant amount of material needing to be translated and reviewed. "The further we looked into Mr Yu the more it led us down different avenues of investigation and unveiled an array of criminal activity. "We will continue to pursue his co-conspirators and associates to ensure justice is served and our communities are protected from those who seek to exploit others and supply illegal drugs for financial gain." Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) Organised crime units' performance 'inconsistent' Gang members jailed for sex trafficking ring Man jailed for trafficking women from Brazil
