Burnham-On-Sea Police have arrested two men following a drugs raid in Highridge on Friday.

As first reported by Burnham-On-Sea.com here, officers carried out a search warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act and seized 40 cannabis plants.

A 37 year-old man was arrested at the scene and officers also seized a stolen mechanical digger.

Police took away the plants and growing equipment from several sheds located near the rear of the Bristol Bridge Inn. The sheds are on a separate property to the pub, and not associated with the pub in any way.

Enquiries led to another search at a nearby property where a further cultivation set-up was found. There, 13 suspected cannabis plants were seized and two other premises were searched. A 29 year-old man was also later arrested.

The search warrant happened just a day after the Highbridge community once again voted drug crime as their top priority during their Have Your Say meeting, as reported here.

Sgt Ian Kennett from Burnham Police told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We have been targeting suspected offenders specifically identified through information from our communities and intelligence led police investigations.”

“Individuals involved in drug crime are damaging our communities and often commit further offences such as burglary and theft. None of which will be tolerated.”

“Tackling the issues that our communities identify as key remains our priority. We hold regular meetings and beat surgeries such as last night, which are proving highly successful.”

“They provide us with large amounts of intelligence direct from the community, which as this case shows informs our proactive work. They are also an opportunity for the community to help shape their local policing.”

“We carried out over 40 warrants and section 18 searches in the Burnham and Highbridge area in relation to drugs last year and shut down six large scale cannabis factories. We will not tolerate drug dealing and associated crime and will continue to tackle it robustly.”

Inspector Roger Tolley added: “I intend to continue to tackle the issues that our communities have cited as their priority, particularly drug and acquisitive crime. These are my top priorities. This kind of criminality, which impacts not only on individual victims but the wider community, will not be tolerated.”

“We will continue to work hard with the aim of maintaining and raising the public’s trust and confidence in their local police service, to ensure that the community’s needs are recognised and addressed and that the public, especially victims, are put first at all times.”

“It is vital that the community continues talks to us. They are our eyes and ears. We need to know what is happening across the area. I encourage them to keep coming forward with information about what is happening in their neighbourhood. We will listen and we will take action, as this operation proves.”

Residents who have information about illegal activities should contact the local policing team on the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

 
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