Dyfed-Powys Police is coming down hard on drug dealers living in Powys and those crossing the Powys border to supply illegal drugs to communities.
A targeted operation has been running for a week involving teams from roads policing, offender management, response and neighbourhood policing to tackle this issue.
Using intelligence gathered from community concerns, monitoring of police systems and analysis of criminal activity, officers have been carrying out targeted stop searches of vehicles and people suspected of being involved in the transportation, supply and use of drugs.
Activity has included: searching cars and individuals resulting in arrests; vehicles and drugs subsequently being seized and taking enforcement action regarding vehicle defects and other traffic offences. To date the operation has resulted in the arrest of 16 people with a number of others being subject to voluntary interviews.
A number of search warrants have been carried out and more than 50 intelligence led stop-searches carried out.
Inspector Andrew Pitt has been leading the operation for Powys division of Dyfed-Powys Police. He said: “Drug suppliers seem to think they are safe to cross the border into Powys and target drug users and some of the more vulnerable members of our community, supplying them with illegal substances and taking advantage of their vulnerability.
“Op Cleopatra is coming down hard on criminals in our area, disrupting their activity and drug supply as much as possible for the good of our local communities in Powys.
“We are not a soft touch: we are continuously gathering intelligence and we will continue with this approach to keep travelling criminals out and prosecute offences.
“I would urge any members of the public who believe drug dealing or cultivating is taking place in their community to report their concerns to the police. Signs of drug dealing could be: permanently closed curtains; comings and goings of strangers from a property; or someone living beyond their means with expensive cars, jewellery or lots of cash amongst other indicators.”
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