Four arrested in Kirkby Stephen drug raid (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Four arrested in Kirkby Stephen drug raid

6:33pm Saturday 2nd March 2013 in News

Four men were arrested in Kirkby Stephen this morning after a pre-planned drug raid involving around 30 police officers.

More than a dozen police vehicles – containing specialist search and entry teams, dog handlers and a crime scene investigator – arrived at the Eden town at 7.45am this morning.

Police said five properties were searched and a significant quantity of drugs and drug paraphernalia were seized.

The exact location was not disclosed.

Four males – aged 16, 20, 23 and 41- were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class B controlled drugs, namely mephedrone, or MCAT.

A further man remains outstanding.

Police said this was part of a pre-planned operation run by the Eden Valley Pro-active Team.

Sgt Jenny Beattie said: “This search followed information received by concerned Kirkby Stephen residents.

“Kirkby Stephen is a beautiful market town and residents are rightly proud of its longstanding community.

“Cumbria remains a safe place to visit and live. There is a small minority of people in Eden who use and supply illegal drugs, but Cumbria Constabulary remains committed to working in partnership with local communities and encourages people to report what they see and hear.

“The operation today proves that if you tell police about problems where you live, they will act positively.”