Pubdate: Thu, 13 Jan 2005
Source: Northampton Chronicle & Echo (UK)
Copyright: 2005 Northamptonshire Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.northantsnew.co.uk/news/chron/index.asp
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2739
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

THREE-MONTH BLITZ ON DRUG DEALERS

DETECTIVES have launched a three-month blitz on drug dealers after
police chiefs revealed millions of pounds is being spent in
Northamptonshire on illegal drugs every year.

Operation Crackdown will form part of a national campaign against
class A drug dealers and crack houses, with senior officers hoping the
project will help reduce the misery suffered by those who become
victims of drug users' crimes.

Supt Dean Smith, the force's head of intelligence, said: "We are
determined to bring to justice class A drug dealers and disrupt their
class A markets by seizing their drugs, assets, firearms and
ammunition. "By working with the public, we hope to increase the
confidence they have in the work they are doing and this should
generate more community intelligence for us to work with."

Initial police investigations to help identify 40 suspected drug
dealers in the north of the county revealed that each year regular
users in Kettering and Corby spend AUKP2.8m on heroin, AUKP500,000 on
crack and AUKP80,000 on cocaine.

Chief Insp Mark Lacey said: "Living near to a drugs supplier can make
people's lives a misery and we are trying to support the communities
and show them we are taking action.

"People are not going to be able to rest easy in their beds as we will
persist with these methods to continue our fight."

Operation Crackdown, which will run until the end of March, will sit
alongside Operation Busted, the high-profile burglary reduction and
detection campaign. The fight against drug problem areas in the centre
of Northampton, and the associated links with burglary and vehicle
crime, has been a priority for officers working on the crackdown.

Chief Supt Ken Willis said: "We are focused on this problem and we
have already been active in closing down crack houses in the town. We
want to close down as many as possible to ensure our communities are
made safer for those who live and work there."

Anyone with information about class A drug dealers can call
Crimestoppers, anonymously.
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MAP posted-by: Derek