Ten arrests and ten vehicles with hidden hydraulic hides built into them seized by Police
A total of ten vehicles with hidden hydraulic hides built into them were seized by officers from the Met’s Specialist Crime South on Wednesday, 15 April.
Nine addresses were also raided as part of the operation to target drug dealing in the Islington area. Officers seized items including drugs, cash and high value watches.
Ten people aged between 19 and 53 were arrested for offences including conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
Detective Chief Inspector Victoria Sullivan from Specialist Crime, who is leading the investigation, said:
“We have been building a spider’s web of intelligence to bring us to where we can arrest those suspected to be involved in the supply of class A drugs across London.
“My officers and I have been building a robust case based on intelligence and evidence, and it has taken a number of months to get to this point.”
The warrants were executed as part of Operation Coryzal, which started in late 2019, and involves approximately 100 officers from across the organisation. This includes officers from the local Gangs Unit, the Met’s Territorial Support Group, as well as local and financial investigators.
All those arrested have been taken to south London police stations. The seized vehicles have been taken to a police garage in London where they are being searched by specialist teams to identify any further hidden compartments.
The searches are ongoing and officers have already seized large quantities of what are suspected to be class A drugs from the vehicles.
DCI Sullivan added: “Even during these challenging times, the Met is committed to proactively targeting criminals – especially those involved in drugs and violence – and ensuring they are brought to justice. This is something that the Met will continue to do in the coming days and weeks.
“Bearing down on violent crime continues to be the Met’s top priority. Drugs and organised crime are inextricably linked with a high proportion of the violence that we have seen unfold on London’s streets. We will continue to deal robustly with those who seek to peddle drugs, often instigating violent acts in the process.”
