POLICE have cracked a major drugs ring in East London they fear was planning to flood the capital with £20 million of heroin over Christmas.
Officers from the Met’s East Central task force and Territorial Support Group raided premises in Forest Gate, last night (Thursday).
The raid followed a tip off that the sparsely-decorated, three-bedroom property at Meath Road was being used as a ‘safe’ house for class A drugs.
Police found a stack of large brown cardboard boxes on top of a bed in one of the bedrooms. They found between 140 and 160 large envelopes stashed with heroin inside each box.
It is believed these were all packaged ready for distribution across London during the festive party season.
Around 150 kilos of high-grade heroin were seized, with an estimated street value of £20 million.
“This has seriously disrupted a major criminal network planning to flood London with heroin for Christmas,” said Det Ins Clive Stephenson, heading the task force operation.
“It is one of the most significant drugs seizures by the Met this year.
“The task force has already secured a total of 200 years in prison sentences for criminals this year alone. Last night’s seizure adds to this success.”
A 19-year-old youth was seen leaving the property just before the 7pm raid and locking up with a set of keys.
He was stopped by officers in the street and later arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.
The teenager was taken to a police station in East London, where he remains in custody tonight (Friday) while investigations continue over the weekend.
06-12-2008, 23:14
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