Officers conducting a series of drugs warrants in Swindon yesterday also made an extra three non-related arrests.
While out on Operation Samphire patrols and raids, officers stopped a vehicle in the High Street, Wroughton. The driver was found to be wanted for two counts of theft. Christopher Simpkins, 41, of no fixed address, was arrested and has since been charged with two counts of theft from a shop and possession of a knife/bladed article in a public place.
He’s been remanded in custody and is due at Swindon Magistrates Court today.
While conducting a warrant in Newhall Street, officers also located a man who was in breach of court bail conditions set by West Sussex Magistrates Court. Christopher Simmonds, 26, of Kirdford Close, Crawley, was arrested and charged with breaching bail conditions and has been remanded in custody to appear at Swindon Magistrates Court today.
A 30-year-old man was then arrested by officers attending an address in Pinehurst on suspicion of breaching a civil injunction. He is currently in custody at Gablecross.
In addition to this, at approximately 3.30pm yesterday, covert officers arrested a 43-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man from Ilford on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.
Both were taken to Gablecross custody for questioning and have since been released under investigation while further enquiries are carried out.
A 35-year-old woman was also arrested at approximately 4.30pm in Spring Gardens on suspicion of Class A drugs.
Det Insp Paul Franklin said: “These latest arrests take yesterday’s total to 16, and the number of arrests this week to 23.
“Officers have been extremely busy all week conducting various warrants and carrying out patrols of areas where we have received community intelligence that suspected drug activity is taking place. While not all of the arrests have been related to drugs, officers have also been able to arrest people in the area for other offences which is great news.
“So far this week, the public feedback to our work has been really encouraging and we are appreciative of the support we have received.
“We are fully committed to keeping our communities safe and will continue to do all we can to tackle county lines drugs gangs.”
