Drugs seized in police raid

2:18pm Wednesday 3rd September 2008

Drugs believed to be cocaine and heroin were seized from two homes in Chipping Norton.

Police first raided Brassey House, in Hailey Avenue, at 8.30pm last night.

Two men aged 29 and 33 were arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A drugs and released on bail.

Class A drugs were then seized from Wilkins House in Hailey Avenue, a spokesman said.

A 27-year-old man remains in custody arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply. A 26-year-old man arrested for possession of Class A was bailed.

The drugs in both houses are believed to be heroin and cocaine.

Chief Inspector Jack Malhi, West Oxfordshire area commander, said: "Every town has drugs issues, but we have chosen to target Chipping Norton at this time because of concerns expressed to us by local residents. The neighbourhood team have been receiving very useful information about a small number of people involved in drug-related activity and we are now acting on that.

"These warrants are part of an operation in Chipping Norton that will proactively target that activity and it will last for some time. Pcs and Police Community Support Officers will be patrolling the town centre and public spaces in the evening and at weekends to disrupt any drug and alcohol-related disorder.

"We will also be working with partner agencies to ensure a clean up of these spaces, targeting drug paraphernalia in particular.

"Residents may notice an increased police presence in Chipping Norton; drug dealers and users certainly will."

All three men are due to answer bail on October 14.

The raid was carried out by neighbourhood officers as part of Operation Falcon, which is a Thames Valley Police crackdown on the drugs trade.