Arrests made as officers tackle drugs in Welwyn Garden City

Arrests have been made in Welwyn Hatfield as officers continue tackling the drug supply.

On Thursday 14 September, officers from the Intervention Team made an intelligence-led stop of a vehicle in Salisbury Road, Welwyn Garden City.

With support from Operation Scorpion and a Special Constable, searches were undertaken resulting in a mobile phone, cannabis and hundreds of pounds worth of cash being seized.

Two discarded pots of suspected crack and heroin were also seized after being found nearby. In addition, the vehicle was seized for being uninsured and used in a crime.

A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply. He has been bailed while the investigation continues.

Wahhab Zaman, aged 34, of Fountains Road in Luton, was also charged with driving without insurance.

This came a few days after another man was arrested in an unconnected incident in Welwyn Garden City.

On Monday 11 September, Operation Scorpion were on patrol when they spotted a man leaving a vulnerable person’s address.

The man attempted to make off through gardens, and after a foot chase, a man was detained and searched in Great Ley. Mobile phones and cannabis were found and seized.

The Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Dog Unit also assisted and their search uncovered suspected class A drugs (pictured).

The man, aged 33 and from Welwyn Garden City, was arrested on suspicion of possession of class A with intent to supply, possession of class B and assault with intent to resist arrest. He has been bailed while the investigation continues.

Detective Inspector Bianca Broadbent said: “Our teams across Welwyn Hatfield are all working together to tackle the local drug supply and I hope these arrests are reassuring.

“We’ve also carried out welfare checks at the address of the vulnerable person as part of our efforts to stop cuckooing*.

“If you have any concerns or suspicions about drug dealing in Welwyn Hatfield, we want to hear from you. Please get in touch so that we can take action.”

You can report information online, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101.

Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form (opens in a new window).

* Cuckooing is when criminals use a vulnerable person’s home as their base of operations.