Drug runners being forced off the roads
Last updated 12:03, Wednesday, 02 July 2008
Drug couriers could be driven off Cumbria’s roads in new police moves to deny criminals the use of their cars.
Officers have successfully managed to get a suspect’s driving licence revoked in a new way of hitting drug carriers and the Mr Bigs using them as pawns in their business.
Detectives revealed the new tool in their armoury as they released the results of a year-long blitz on drug offenders in the west of the county.
Police arrested more than 100 people and raided the equivalent of two houses a week in a massive crackdown aimed at improving everyday life in streets and estates.
Officers were successful in applying to have a driving licence revoked by using existing legislation used to take away licences of people incapable of driving through disability.
Detective Inspector Cliff Walker said: “A local drug abuser and suspected drugs courier was highlighted as having a ‘disability’, defined in this case as the persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol.
“Both local intelligence and previous convictions were used to support the claim and in due course the DVLA agreed and the licence was revoked.
“This is clearly a new and powerful way of denying criminals the use of the roads particularly in respect of drugs couriers being used by higher echelon criminals.”
Meanwhile, arrests were made in Cumbria yesterday in a national operation involving the country’s Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA).
SOCA, which tackles crimes including class A drugs offences and organised illegal immigration, confirmed it had acted in a joint move with HM Revenue and Customs.
No further details of the operation or how many arrests were made in the county had been released publicly this morning.
A SOCA spokesman said: “There were 12 arrests in Cumbria, Newcastle, Nottinghamshire, Cambridge and the south east.”
SOCA also concentrates on fraud, electronic crime, firearms and the recovery of the proceeds of crime.
'I'm sorry, I can't carry your profitable drugs around anymore, no matter how much you promise/threaten me. I've lost my driving licence and thus am unable to break the law.'
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well, wouldn't they just be tempted to STEAL cars? they definately will not be giving up drug selling...it's a daft idea really....these guys are CRIMINALS..!!
Posted by deb on 7 July 2008 kl. 17:09