A teenager has been arrested as police crackdown on an upsurge in street drug dealing in parts of The Meadows.
Officers from the Nottingham South Operation Reacher team have been responding to an increase in reports of street dealing in recent weeks – using a range of covert and high-visibility tactics.
Yesterday (14 December 2022) cops in plain clothes spotted a group of drug users who had congregated in St Saviours Gardens, The Meadows, at around 10 am.
A short time later a man known to officers arrived at the scene and was seen making a number of transactions with the people who had gathered.
He was detained by officers and found to be in possession of two mobile phones and £100 in cash.
The 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of drugs.
A search was then carried out at his address where officers discovered a large amount of cash, drugs equipment and packaging, a stash of knives and a stab vest.
Officers will now analyse information gained from the suspect’s mobile phone and forensic evidence.
Sergeant Tim Register, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “The Operation Reacher team in Nottingham South has been responding to concerns raised by members of the public about an increase in street dealing in this part of The Meadows.
“We have been working really hard on this latest operation to disrupt the dealers so this is an extremely pleasing result for the team.
“It is also always good news when we can recover knives and make sure they don’t end up on our streets.”
Inspector Karl Thomas, district commander for Nottingham South, said: “The Operation Reacher team continues to make a real difference to people’s lives and this is yet another good example of quality, proactive policing.
“Targeting drug dealers is one of our beat priorities because they continue to blight the neighbourhoods we serve.
“We will never tolerate criminals using our streets to push drugs to vulnerable people and spread misery for their own profits.”
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