Calne drug raid was a warning say police

10:13am Thursday 15th May 2008

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Police say an armed raid on a flat in Calne, where they seized thousands of pounds worth of home-grown cannabis, is a warning to dealers in the town.

Seven officers stormed in on Thursday after neighbours reported a strange smell coming from the flat in Coulter House, off Woodroffe Square.

Police found used needles, a bin bag full of cannabis and an airing cupboard lined with foil and glow lamps.

They say the value of the cannabis seized is £10,000.

Officers were looking to arrest a 32-year-old man for cultivating the class B drug with a view to selling it after neighbours reported people entering the block of flats at strange times in the night.

It is believed the man, who has a history of heroin abuse, had just bagged up the cannabis ready to sell.

During the raid, officers were alerted by neighbours who said the suspect had run from his Westlea Housing Association home into a nearby housing estate.

Neighbours looked on in shock as armed officers surrounded a block of flats searching for the suspect.

They knocked on doors but no one answered. It is believed the man had already gone to another property in Calne.

Sgt Mark Rees of Calne Police said: "This operation was a result of complaints from neighbours and we have taken positive action by seizing all the suspected drugs in the property.

"We will be working with Westlea and helping them to secure the property.

"By seizing the drugs we have taken them off the streets and are showing the people of Calne we will not tolerate any drug offences in the town.

"We will be searching for the tenant of the flat with a view to asking him about its contents."

Shirley Davies, head of neighbourhood services at Westlea, said: "We are working in full partnership with the police to establish the facts of the case so that appropriate action can be taken in the interests of all residents."