3 men charged after Dorset Police and MET operation to tackle drug dealers

Search warrants were carried out in Bournemouth and London

Author: Maria GreenwoodPublished 7th Sep 2022

Three people have been charged and are due to appear in court following a series of warrants carried out as part of an operation to crackdown on suspected county lines drug dealers.

Officers from Dorset Police’s Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Neighbourhood Enforcement Team (NET) worked with the Metropolitan Police to execute a number of warrants in London and Bournemouth yesterday (6 September).

Three people were arrested and, following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, have now been charged with drug supply offences.

Two men from London, aged 26 and 34, and a 34-year-old Bournemouth woman have been charged with being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and possessing class A drugs with intent to supply. They are all due to appear at Poole Magistrates’ Court today (7 September).

The activity was part of Op Viper, which sees officers carrying out proactive efforts to disrupt the work of suspected drugs gangs operating in Dorset.

Inspector Nick Lee, of the BCP NET, said: “Through Op Viper we are committed to working with our partners, including other police forces, to crackdown on those believe to be involved in county lines drugs networks.

“This is a further example of the action we are taking to disrupt this kind of reported activity in our communities.

“We will be relentless in our pursuit of those who are believed to be dealing drugs in Dorset and are committed to supporting vulnerable people who are at risk of being exploited.

“We are indebted to local communities for any information and intelligence they can provide to assist in these ongoing efforts.

“Contact us at www.dorset.police.uk/contact or call us on 101. If a crime is in progress, always dial 999.”

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