IN PICTURES: Drug raid carried out in Calne

Armed officers joined police officers and PSCOs in the raid, which took place shortly before 9am.

Passing families dashed down the street as police careered towards the George Close property.

Neighbours watched on from their windows as an armed police officer battered through the front door.

A little after 9am, police reemerged from the property with a man clad in a blue Puma jacket and grey sweatpants.

As he was escorted out the property in handcuffs, where he shouted at a PSCO and told him to "stop smiling" before being told to "calm down."

Photo by Trevor Porter

The 28-year-old was arrested on suspicion of Possession With Intent To Supply (PWITS) Class A and B drugs. Police say an undisclosed amount of cannabis and Class A drugs were found at the address.

He was taken to Melksham Police Station.

Sgt Richard Marshall, who led the raid, said: "My officers in the Chippenham Neighbourhood Policing Teams along with colleagues from the Fortitude Team, Melksham CID, the Intelligence Unit, Specialist Operations and Armed Response have been executing the warrants aimed at targeting drugs gangs primarily trading in cocaine and cannabis and supplying locally.

"This level of criminality won't be tolerated by us. The message is, if you deal in drugs be expected to be found and prosecuted.

"For those living in these communities, please be assured our work to stop these drugs groups continues - it won't stop."

Sgt Richard Marshall

Neighbours of the arrested man spoke of their shock at the raid and influx of police vehicles, which they described as "quite the sight."

The man arrested was described as "well known" in the area.

Police also executed a drugs warrant today in Corsham.

The warrant was carried out at an address on Dickens Avenue; and a 37-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of PWITS Class B. An undisclosed amount of cannabis was discovered at the address. He has since been released under investigation.

The raids are part of a wider operation by Wiltshire Police to tackle drug crime.

A total of more than one-hundred-thousand pounds worth of drugs has been seized over the past 18 months following the execution of drugs warrants.

A total of 20 warrants have been carried out so far.

These warrants have resulted in 27 separate arrests and more than £90,000 in cash and financial assets being seized, along with designer clothing and shoes and vehicles valued over £60,000; plus two imitation firearms and a large machete.

Sgt Marshall added: "We have been prolific over the past 18-months at cracking down on local drug dealing in our local communities.

"Since November 2019, the resulting operation has ensured that a large quantity of drugs has been taken off the streets along with imitation firearms, other weapons and criminal assets like cash, phones, vehicles and designer goods, which were also seized."

Photos by Trevor Porter

Dates of the 18 other warrants carried out by Wiltshire Police

07/11/2019 - One warrant executed at Long Close, Corsham - male arrested at property and found in possession of large amount of cannabis and cocaine;  Daniel Littlechild, aged 54, was convicted of drug offences and sentenced to 27-months in prison. 

07/12/2019 - Four warrants executed at Farnwell Close and Loyalty Street in Chippenham and Long Close in Corsham.  Four people arrested on suspicion of Concerned In The Supply of Class A and money laundering. They have been released under investigation. A high value vehicle, cash, Class A and Class B drugs were located. 

03/03/2020 – Two males arrested on suspicion of PWITS Class B following the execution of a warrant on an address at Gorse Place, Corsham.  A large amount of Class B was found.  Both have been released under investigation. 

22/04/2020 – Male arrested on suspicion of PWITS Class B and a female on suspicion of PWITS Class A following a search of an address on Stonelea Close, Chippenham where Class A and B drugs were located.  Both have been released under investigation. 

29/04/2020 – Male arrested on suspicion of PWITS Class B drugs following a search of an address in Pewsham where Class B drugs were located.  He has been released under investigation. 

16/06/2020 – Search of a property on Royal Close, Chippenham; a male was arrested on suspicion of PWITS Class A.  He has been released under investigation. 

13/08/2020 – Two warrants executed on an address on Anson Avenue, Calne; two males were arrested on suspicion of possessing Class A.  Both have been released under investigation. 

07/01/2021 – Warrant executed at the Travelodge, Chippenham;  male arrested on suspicion of PWITS Class A and possession of a firearm.  He has been released under investigation.  

04/02/2021 – Warrant executed at a property on Loyalty Street, Chippenham; male and female arrested on suspicion of PWITS Class A and possession of criminal property.  A large amount of Class A was located.  Both have been released under investigation.  

04/03/2021 – Warrant executed at an address on Linnet Road, Calne; two males arrested on suspicion of PWITS Class A and B.  Both have been released under investigation.  

26/02/2021 – Warrant executed at a property on Haystack Avenue, Chippenham; a male and female arrested on suspicion of PWITS Class A and B.  Both have been released under investigation.  

26/03/2021 – Warrant executed at a property on Oate Hill, Chippenham; two males arrested on suspicion of PWITS Class B.  A large amount of Class B was located.  Both have been released under investigation.  

09/04/2021 – Warrant executed at an address on Orchard Road, Corsham; male arrested on suspicion of PWITS Class A, also an amount of Class A was recovered.  He has been released under investigation.

09/04/2021 – Warrant executed on Royal Close, Chippenham; a male and female arrested on suspicion of PWITS Class A. Both have been released under investigation.