Dawn raid: Class A drugs seized

Suspected drug dealers were jolted out of their beds after the borough s police raided 12 addresses in a series of dawn raids this morning, writes Lorraine King. Officers from Brent teamed up with their colleagues at the Territorial Support Group resultin

Suspected drug dealers were jolted out of their beds after the borough's police raided 12 addresses in a series of dawn raids this morning, writes Lorraine King.

Officers from Brent teamed up with their colleagues at the Territorial Support Group resulting in the arrest of ten people and the seizure of class A and B drugs.

The raids are the second part of Operation Soto, an 18-month long intelligence-led initiative clamping down on drugs supply in the borough.

The first phase was carried out last month and saw a total of 12 people charged with 49 offences.

They are all in custody awaiting trial.

In addition to the raids this morning, three businesses in Church Road, Willesden, which were suspected of being a hub for drug-dealing, were also targeted yesterday afternoon resulting in eight arrests

Officers stormed Xawaaladda Amal Express, an internet caf�, Spicey Nicey, a West-Indian takeaway and Jet Max, a computer shop.

Spicey Nicey has since been closed down.

In the last few years the Church Road area has gained notoriety for its open drug-dealing and police revisited the road this morning to swoop on suspects.

Mark Toland, Borough Commander of Brent, has pledged to increase the number of officers patrolling in the area who will be on-hand to provide reassurance to the community.

He said: "Our community told us that drug dealing in this area was affecting their daily lives and gave us the information that has enabled us to launch this operation.

"This demonstrates that with our residents support we can arrest the criminals responsible, and make life safer and more pleasant for those that live, work or visit the borough.

"Brent police continue to take this type of criminality seriously and investigative work under Operation Soto will continue to disrupt and arrest those responsible for the circulation of Class A drugs in Brent.

"We would appeal for anyone with information about criminals operating in their communities to contact their Safer Neighbourhood Team."

Hussein Hersi from Brent Police Independent Advisory Group said: "Operations like these not only apprehend criminals and deter more crime they also give confidence and reassurance to the community, this is the key thing that I have observed today.